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SAMUEL SLADE BENTON 

HIS ANCESTORS AND 

DESCENDANTS 

BY 

Josiah Henry Benton, Jr. 




1629 iSffiffl 1901 



Privately Printed 

BOSTON 

1901 



^--"Vfc^\ 



Copyright, 1901, by J. H. Benton, Jr. 



THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 

Two Copies Received 

MAY. 3 1901 

Copyright entry 

CljtA.. 2 5. f jot 

CLASS d- XXc.' No. 

7f13 

COPY A. 



4>£ 



jot como**m| 



f 

THE preparation of this volume has been 
the recreation of hours taken from a busy 
life. It was at first intended to be a tribute 
to the memory of my grandparents^ but has 
so far outgrown the original design that it 
may perhaps be called the Story of a New 
England Family. 



Table of Contents 



Ancestors of Samuel Slade Benton 

Andrew Benton (1620-1683) 1 

Children of Andrew Benton 31 

Samuel Benton (1658-1746) 41 

Children of Samuel Benton 53 

Jacob Benton (1698-1761) 57 

Moses Benton (1702-1755) 71 

Children of Moses and Merriam Benton 74 

Jacob Benton, Jr. (1729-1807) 81 

Brothers and Sisters of Jacob Benton, Jr. 94 

Children of Jacob Benton, Jr. 97 

Elizabeth Benton (1759— 1820) 101 

Mabel Benton (i76i-i829(?)) 105 

Jacob Benton (1766-1828) in 

Reynold Benton (i768(?)-i8n) 133 

Chauncey Benton (1770-1833) 141 

Mary Benton (1772-1841) 147 

Samuel Slade Benton (1777— 1857) I SS 
Descendants of Samuel Slade Benton 

Children of Samuel Slade Benton 175 

Reuben Clark Benton (1802-1857) 179 

Hannah Slade Benton (1 805-1 893) 197 

Samuel Austin Benton (1 807-1 865) 201 

Esther Benton (1 808-1 888) 209 



Andrew Benton 



1620 




1683 



Andrew Benton 

1620-1683 



THE Bentons of New England are descended from 
Edward Benton and Andrew Benton, who came from 
England between 1630 and 1635. It is not now pos- 
sible definitely to determine to what particular branch of the 
English family they belonged. That family was an ancient and 
honorable one, and was at one time quite numerous, especially 
in Wiltshire and in Essex. (History of Rochford Hundred^ by 
Philip Benton, pp. 394 et seq.) 

There are seven coats of arms belonging to the English 
Bentons, but as it is not yet possible to ascertain from which 
branch of the English family the Bentons of New England 
came, any of their descendants who covet a coat of arms must 
suit themselves at the risk of choosing a coat which they have 
no right to wear. I think, however, they may well be content 
to trace their lineage from Andrew and Edward Benton, plain 
yeomen from the English farms, who came to the new world 
to better their condition, and that they might own the land 
they tilled. 

The earliest ancestor of Samuel Slade Benton of whom I have 
as yet found any accurate information, is Andrew Benton, who 
was born in England in 1 620, the year in which the Mayflower 
brought the Puritans to New England. His tombstone, still 
standing in the "Old Center Burying Ground" near the rear 
wall of the First Church in Hartford, Connecticut, and doubt- 
less erected by his son Samuel, bears this inscription: — 

Andrew 
Benton aged 

63 YEARS 
HE DYED IVLY 
31 ANO 1683. 

He probably came from England among those who settled 
first at Watertown in 1630, a portion of whom went to 



Samuel £>IaDe Benton 



andrew Wethersfield and Hartford, Connecticut, in 1634 and 1635, 

benton and some of them to Milford in 1639. 
l^*^, The Indian name of Milford was Wepowage. It was pur- 

chased of the Indians by a committee for the planters, Feb- 
ruary 12, 1639, for the consideration of "6 coats, 10 blankets, 
1 kettle, 12 hatchets, 12 hoes, 2 dozen knives and a dozen 
small glasses" (mirrors). The original settlers or "planters" 
are said to have come mostly from the counties of Essex, 
Hereford, and York, England. A number of them came with 
the Eaton and Davenport Company, and were at New Haven 
in 1638, their pastor being the Rev. Peter Prudden from 
Edgton, Yorkshire. While they were at New Haven they 
decided to settle at Wepowage at the head of a small harbor 
on Long Island Sound about ten miles from New Haven. 
Mr. Prudden preached at that time at Wethersfield, adjoin- 
ing New Haven, and when he went with his church com- 
pany from New Haven a number of the settlers in Wethers- 
field went with him, and became members of the Milford 
Church, organized at New Haven, August 22, 1639. These 
settlers from Wethersfield, of whom Andrew Benton was 
probably one, were from Watertown, Massachusetts, and a 
part of Sir Richard Saltonstall's company from Essex, Eng- 
land. The planters went from New Haven by the devious In- 
dian trail, driving their cattle and other domestic animals with 
them, while their scanty household effects, farming utensils, 
and materials for a common house were taken by water. They 
erected a common house at the head of the harbor, and a few 
huts for temporary occupation, and then, as they were without 
the jurisdiction of any established settlement, they made a gov- 
ernment of their own. November 20, 1639, they agreed that 
the power to elect officers and to manage the common inter- 
ests of the plantation should be in the church only, and also 
that they would "guide themselves in all their doings by the 
written Word of God till such time as a body of laws should be 
established." They also chose five magistrates, directed that 
they should hold courts once in sixweeks, and agreed as to the 
payments to be made by each person for the public charges, 
and November 24, 1640, "with the common consent and gen- 
eral vote of the freemen the plantation was named Milford." 



$ts ancestors 



The first record of Andrew Benton is in the list of the andrew 
original settlers in 1639, but he is not recorded among the benton 
"free planters," which shows that he was not then in church ^Z 
fellowship. The Milford planters declared this to be a neces- 
sary qualification to "act in the choyce of public officers for 
the carrying on of public affayrs in this plantation." In the 
original allotment of Milford lands made in 1639, and re- 
corded in 1646, Andrew Benton received lot 64 containing 
three acres, and shown on the accompanying plan. The rec- 
ord is: "Andrew Benton hath three acres be it more or less 
being bounded with a highway on the East, with George 
Clark Sen r on the South with the comon on the West, and 
with Edward Riggs on the North." [Milford Land Records, 
Vol. I. p. 80.) These lots were laid out in narrow parallel 
strips on each side of Mill River and West End Brook, doubt- 
less for convenience of access to water. 

By the original allotment each owner was required to build 
a good house on his lot within three years or it went back 
to the town, but this condition evidently was not strictly en- 
forced. The houses of the settlers were not of logs, but were 
framed in the low lean-to style, and covered with split oak 
shingles. There were no division fences until 1645, by which 
time it is said most of the planters had built on their lots, 
though Andrew Benton may not have built until a year or two 
later. 

All the lots were surrounded by "palisades" for common 
protection. These "palisades" were of the trunks of trees 
planted in the ground, and set so thickly that a man could 
not pass between them, making a fence ten or twelve feet in 
height, enclosing an area of nearly a mile square on both sides 
of the river. But for this the little settlement would probably 
have been destroyed at the time of the Indian combination 
against the white men in 1645 and 1646. At that time the 
settlers kept guard by sentinels every few rods along the 
whole line of "palisades" day and night. As early as March 
10, 1 640, the settlers organized themselves in military service, 
and provided that "every male above the age of 16 years, 
whether magistrates, ministers, or any other ( though exempt 
from training, watching and warding) shall always be pro- 



Samuel §>lade Benton 



andrew [Herewith is given a plan of the original town plot of Mi If or d, 

BENTON 
1620 




projected on a scale of three inches to a mile. 'The lot of Andrew 
Benton is number 64 on the plan at the left of the plate .] 



$fe Ancestors 



vided with and have in readiness, both a pound of powder andrew 
and two pounds of bulletts or shott, and two fathoms of benton 
match for a matchlock, on penalty of $s. a month for such ^_^Z 
default, in case ye amunition is to be had from ye town mag- 
azine." In 1645 tne Indians set the country about Milford 
on fire, which did much damage to timber and meadows, 
although by strenuous exertions the settlers stopped the fire 
at the swamps on the West and North before it reached the 
"palisades." 

The Milford Church, organized at New Haven, August 
22, 1639, was formed in the following manner: — Seven per- 
sons were first chosen, who joined in covenant to be the 
church, and were called "the seven pillars." Others were after- 
wards added and joined in the covenant, making the "visible 
saints" who were the church. In 1640 this church chose and 
ordained Rev. Peter Prudden as minister. The record of the 
ordination in the handwriting of Mr. Prudden is as follows: 
"At Milford, I, Peter Prudden was called to ye office of a 
Pastour in this church, and ordained at New Haven, by Zach- 
ariah Whitman, Williom Fowler, Edmund Tapp, designed by 
ye church for that work: Zach: Whitman being ye moderator 
for that meeting in a day of solemn humiliation, upon ye 3d 
Saturday in April, being I remember ye 1 8 th day of ye month, 
1640." 

Whitman was the Ruling Elder, and Fowler and Tapp 
were the Deacons. Mr. Prudden had previously been ordained 
as a minister and had preached in England and in the Colony; 
but, following the primary principle of Congregationalism, that 
the minister derives his authority from the particular body of 
"visible saints" or church by which he is called, he was reor- 
dained by the Milford Church. 

In 1 641 a meeting-house forty feet square was erected, but 
was not completed for some years. The accompanying ground 
plan, showing the arrangement of seats, and a south view of 
it taken from Lambert's History of New Haven Colony, are in- 
teresting. It was doubtless in this house that Andrew Ben- 
ton's children born in Milford were baptized. February 7, 
1643, a footway was laid out to the meeting-house for the ac- 
commodation of the settlers on the west side as follows: "By 



Samuel £>laDe Benton 



andrew [The following cut represents a -view of the first Meeting-House 

benton from the south ; and below is the ground plan of the same building. 
1620 




The various letters represent (a) the pulpit ; (b) deacons' seat; (c) 
guard seats ; (d) guard seats on the women's side of the house; (e) 
gallery stairs. The dots show the place where the guns were set. 




The bell-rope hung down in the middle aisle. These illustrations 
are taken from Lambert's "History of New Haven Colony." 



$ts ancestors 



7 



the brethren and inhabitants of Milford it is agreed, that a andrew 
footway to the meeting house shall be allowed, (and maintay ned benton 
with convenient styles) from the West End. The stiles to be ?_*Z 
maintained by bro: Nicholas Camp at the West End, and by 
bro: Tho. Baker at the meeting house (for the outside stiles;) 
and for the inner fences, each man shall maintain his stile in 
the most convenient place: and the passage over Little Dread- 
ful swamp in John Fletcher's lot, shall be by a long log hewed 
on the upper side." Andrew and Hannah Benton often trav- 
elled this footway, for their home was on the west side of the 
town, and Little Dreadful swamp lay between it and the meet- 
ing-house. 

In 1643 Milford became a part of the Colony of New Ha- 
ven, but under the conditions contained in the following curi- 
ous declaration in the New Haven Colony Records, Vol. I. 
p. 71: — 

"A Generall Court held at New Haven the 23rd of Octo- 
ber, 1 643 . Whereas this Plantation att first with generall ande 
full consent layde their foundations thatt none butt members 
of aproved Churches should be accounted free Burgesses, nor 
should any else have any vote in any Election, or power or 
trust in ordering of Civill affayres, in wch. way we have con- 
stantly proceeded hitherto in our whole Court wth. much 
comfortable fruite through God's Blessing, and whereas Stam- 
forde, Guilforde, Yennicock ( Southhold,) have upon ye same 
foundations and ingagements, Entered into Combination wth. 
vs. — This Court was now informed thatt of late there have 
beene some meetings and treatyes between some of Milforde 
ande Mr. Eaton about a Combination by which it appeareth 
thatt Milforde hath formerly taken in as free Burgesses, six 
Planters who are nott in Church ffellowship, wch. hath bred 
some difficulty in the passages of this treaty; butt att present 
it stands thus, — The Deputies for Milforde have offered in 
the name both of the Church ande Towne, First — thatt the 
present six free Burgesses who are nott Church members 
shall nott at any time hereafter be chosen either Deputies or 
into any Public trust for the Combination. Secondly, thatt 
they shall neither personally nor by Proxie vote att any time 
in the Election of Magistrates. Ande Thirdly, thatt none 



8 Samuel £>la&e Benton 

andrew shall be admitted ffreemen or free Burgesses hereafter att Mil- 
benton forde butt Church members, according to the practice of New 
^_*Z Haven; Thus farr they granted, butt in two perticulars, they 
ande the said six ffreemen desire Liberty. First yt. the said 
six ffreemen being already admitted by them, may continue 
to act in all proper perticular towne business wherein the 
Combination is nott interested, ande Secondly thatt they may 
vote in the Election of Deputies to be sent to the Generall 
Courte for the Combination or Jurisdiction wch. soe to be 
chosen ande sent shall alwayes be Church members. The Pre- 
mises being seriously considered by the whole Courte, the 
Brethren did express themselves as one man clearly ande fully 
thatt in the foundation layde for Civill government they have 
attended their Lights, ande should have failed in their dutye 
had they done otherwise ande professed themselves carefull 
and resolved nott to shake the said Groundworks by any 
change for any respect — and Ordered that this their vnder- 
standing of their way and Resolution to maintain itt should 
be entred wth. their vote in this business as a Lasting Rec- 
ord. But not foreseeing any danger in yielding to Milforde 
wth. the forementioned Cautions, itt was by Generall Con- 
sent and vote ordered thatt the Consociation proceed in all 
things according to the premises." 

As Andrew Benton was not admitted to the Milford Church 
until 1648, he was doubtless one of the six planters not in 
church fellowship, whose action was thus carefully guarded. 
In a further division of lands in 1646, Andrew Benton 
received ten acres more of land (Milford Land Records, pp. 
86, 97). In 1647 ne s °ld> or ratner exchanged, his original 
lot 64 for original lot 62. (Id., p. 102.) Lot 64 is high land on 
the outer portion of the town and is still farm land. Lot 61 
is at the southwest corner of the present Hill and Spring 
streets. The houses on Spring Street faced the east, and it is 
probable that Andrew Benton built his first house on lot 62. 
In 1648/9 he received more land, probably meadow, the rec- 
ord being: "Ord. that Andrew Benton shall have a piece of 
land for his last quarter division in the place where he pro- 
pounded beyond the beaver pond." (Id., p. 21.) On May 14, 
1649, it was ordered that "Andrew Benton is granted liberty 



tyis ancestors 



to lay down his seed division and to take it up in another andrew 
place where he desireth that is that which James Board laid benton 
down." [Id., p. 23.) In another division in 1659/60 of meadow ^Z 
land the record is: "General Court, 19 March 1659/60. The 
number of acres that are to be laid out to each Inhabitant. 
Andrew Benton 8 ^." {Id., p. 54.) 

Andrew Benton married first Hannah Stocking, the young- 
est daughter of George Stocking of Hartford, who settled 
first in "The New Towne," now Cambridge, Massachusetts, 
and went from there to Hartford as one of the first settlers in 
1636. The place and date of this marriage are not shown by 
any record, but it was probably in 1 649, at Hartford, and after 
he had built a house in Milford either on his original lot 64 
or original lot 62. 

The original record of the First Church at Milford, now in 
the possession of Deacon George Clark of Milford, shows 
that Andrew Benton was admitted to the Church March 5, 
1648, and that October 13, 1650, "the wife of Andrew Ben- 
ton" was admitted. 

George Stocking was an active member of the First Church 
and prominent among the early settlers of Hartford. I think 
Andrew Benton and Hannah Stocking must have become 
acquainted while Andrew was at Watertown, or possibly while 
he was at Wethersfield, only three miles from Hartford, and 
after Andrew had settled in Milford and built him a house 
he went to Hartford to marry the girl he had known before 
he went to Milford. The distance, about seventy-five miles, 
from Milford to Hartford, through what was then a wilder- 
ness, was such as probably to prevent any acquaintance be- 
tween them being formed after he went to Milford and Han- 
nah's father settled in Hartford. It is easy to see why no record 
of this marriage is to be found. The law then required all 
marriages to take place before some magistrate.* It was not 
until October 1 1, 1694, that the General Court enacted that 
" This Court, for the satisfaction of such as are conscien- 
ciously desirous to be marryed by the ministers of their plan- 
tations doe grant the ordayned ministers of the severall plan- 

* // is said that no marriage was solemnized by a minister in Massachusetts 
until 1686. (Mass. Hist. Soc. Proceedings, 1858-1860, p. 283.) 



io Samuel £>iaDe Benton 

andrew tations in this Colony liberty to joyne in mariage such persons 
benton as are qualify ed for the same according to law." {Pub. Rec. 
^Z Conn., Vol. III. p. 136.) 

The marriage therefore could not have been solemnized 
by a minister, and the Hartford town records of that period 
are so incomplete as to show that marriages by magistrates 
were very frequently not recorded. 

The original records of the First Church of Milford show 
that a son of Andrew Benton was baptized April 14, 1650. 
The record is as follows : " 14 April 1650 John son of An- 
drew Benton, he died May following by his mother in y e bed 
in y e night." The first entry in the town record of births and 
deaths is October, 1653. No previous record can be found, 
and it is quite clear that this son John was the first child of 
Andrew and Hannah Benton. The church record also shows 
the baptism of three other children in Milford, the record 
being : — 

" 23 November 1651 Hannah daugh. of Andrew Benton." 
" 14 August 1653 Andrew son of Andrew Benton." 
" 15 April 1655 Mary daugh. of Andrew Benton." 
From March, 1656, to July, 1660, the Milford Church 
was without a minister and there is no church record for that 
period. 

The Milford town record, beginning October, 1653, shows 
the birth of three children, beginning with that of Mary, whom 
the church record shows to have been baptized April 15, 
1655. That record is : — 

" Mary Benton daughter of Andrew Benton of Milford 
was borne the fourteenth of April 1655. John Benton sone 
of Andrew Benton of Milford was borne y e 7 October 1656. 
Samuel Benton sone of Andrew Benton of Milford was borne 
y e 15 of August 1658." 

The town records are complete and in good condition from 
1658, and after July, 1660, the church records are also com- 
plete and in good condition, but neither of these records 
shows the birth or baptism of any child of Andrew Benton 
after that of Samuel, born August 15, 1658. The inventory 
of his estate, however, in December, 1683, shows that there 
were two other children of Andrew and Hannah Benton; a 



IMS ancestors 



ii 



son, Joseph, and a daughter, Dorothy. Joseph died August andrew 
12, 1753, and the inscription on his tombstone in Goodhill benton 
Cemetery, Kent, Connecticut, states that he was then in his ^_^ 
ninety-third year, which shows his birth to have been about 
1 66 1. No record has yet been found of Dorothy except the 
statement in the inventory of her father's estate, in 1683, that 
she was then living and one of the children of his first wife. I 
think she was younger than Joseph, and that both of them 
were born in Hartford, and probably baptized in the First 
Church, the records of which at that period are lost. 

I think Andrew Benton went from Milford to Hartford as 
early as 1660. He was elected viewer offences in Hartford, 
February 16, 1663, and reelected February 17, 1664. (Hart- 
ford 'Town Votes, pp. 119, 121.) He was a creditor in Hartford 
of Nathaniel Greensmith, who was executed for witchcraft at 
Hartford January 25, 1663, and the Court allowed payment 
of his debt February 4, 1664, the record being: "Feb: 4: 1664 
To make a finall Issue of the payment of Nat. Greensmiths 
debts, the court allows out of Andrew Bentons Bill the Sum 
of fifteen pound & they viz : the Marshall, ensigne, & peck 
are to sattisfy themselves for their paines there abouts out of 
this estate." 

The Court record also shows that he served as a juror in 
Hartford, in June, 1664; and at a General Assembly of the 
Colony of Connecticut for Election at Hartford, May 11, 
1665, he was admitted and sworn as a freeman. (Pub. Rec. 
Conn., Vol. I. p. 19.) 

The form of the " Freeman's Oath " was prescribed by law 
and stated the essential duties of good citizenship. It was as 
follows : — 

^[ The Oath of a Freeman. 

I A. B. being by the P r uidence of God an Inhabitant 
, w th in the Jurisdiction of Conectecott, doe acknowledge 
myselfe to be subiecte to the Gouerment thereof, and doe 
sweare by the great and fearefull name of the euerliueing God, 
to be true and faythfull vnto the same, and doe submitt boath 
my p r son and estate thereunto, according to all the holsome 
lawes and orders that there are, or hereafter shall be there made, 
and established by lawfull authority, and that I will nether 



i2 Samuel S>iaDe Benton 

andrew plott nor pra&ice any euell ag c the same, nor consent to any 
benton that shall so doe, but will tymely discouer the same to lawfull 
^_*2, authority there estalished; and that I will, as I am in duty 
bownd, mayntayne the honner of the same and of the law- 
full magestratts thereof, p r moting the publicke good of yt, 
whilst I shall soe continue an Inhabitant there; and whenso- 
eu r I shall giue my voate or suffrage touching any matter 
w ch conserns this Comon welth being cauled thereunto, will 
give yt as in my conscience I shall judge, may conduce to 
the best good of the same, w th out respect of p r sons or favor 
of any man. Soe helpe me God in o r Lord Jesus Christe. 
Aprill the x th , 1640. (Pub. Rec. Conn. y Vol. I. p. 73.) 
February 26, 1656, it was ordered that not less than two 
magistrates should give this oath at a duly warned public meet- 
ing. (Id., p. 293.) 

The church records of Milford show that Andrew Benton 
and his wife and children were dismissed to the Hartford 
church in March, 1666. The records are, under the head of 
"Admissions" : "5 March, 1648, Andrew Benton." Follow- 
ing this in a different handwriting, " his wife & children dis- 
missed to Hartford March 1666," and "13 O&ober, 1650, the 
wife of Andrew Benton"; following this in a different hand- 
writing, " dismissed to Hartford March 1 666." At that time the 
church in Hartford was the original or First Church, organized 
at Watertown O&ober 11, 1 633, and it was to that church that 
Andrew and his wife and children were dismissed. 

February 12, 1669, a part of the members of the First 
Church organized the Second Church of Hartford, and Andrew 
Benton and Hannah Benton were among the original mem- 
bers of the Second Church who signed the covenant at the 
time of its organization. In the records of the Second Church 
of Hartford, following the names of the original members 
there is a list of "members and children not in full com- 
munion," and in this list is the name of Hannah Benton, 
doubtless the daughter of Andrew Benton, who was baptized 
in Milford, November 23, 1651. She died before January, 
1678, when another daughter of Andrew Benton, by Anne 
Cole, his second wife, was born and named Hannah. 



$ts ancestors i 3 

The original records of the First Church of Hartford be- andrew 
fore 1685 are lost, and it is impossible to tell when Andrew benton 
and Hannah Benton were accepted as members of that church ^*Z 
upon their dismissal from the Milford Church, but there is 
no doubt about their membership in the First Church. The 
town records show that in August, 1667, nearly three years 
before the organization of the Second Church, " the Town did 
desire and empower John Cole, Andrew Benton and William 
Edwards to correcl: any disorder that they shall discover in 
the time of public worship," and at a town meeting held 
February 23, 1668, "Robert Sanford and Andrew Benton 
chosen to be collectors for gathering of the minister's rates 
this year ensuing." {Hartford Town Votes , pp. 134, 138.) It 
also appears from the manuscript of Mr. Whiting, minister of 
the First Church who separated with a portion of the mem- 
bers and formed the Second Church in February, 1669, that 
Andrew Benton, John Cole, and two others of the church 
were called by Mr. Whiting, the minister, to be present with 
him November 22nd, 1666, "at Mr. Willys' house," when 
William Pitkin and others " came to speak " with Mr. Whiting 
and demanded full communion with the Hartford church on 
the ground of their English church membership. (Hist. First 
Church, Hartford, p. 200.) It is evident that Andrew Benton 
was prominent in the First Church from the time he went to 
Hartford. He stood steadily with Mr. Whiting, the associate 
minister, with George Stocking, his father-in-law, with John 
Cole, whose daughter he subsequently married as his second 
wife, and with the other members who opposed the methods 
of church government and management adopted by the min- 
ister, Mr. Stone. They regarded Mr. Stone's views and meth- 
ods as opposed to the sound teachings of Thomas Hooker, 
pastor of the First Church from its organization in Watertown, 
in 1633, to his death at Hartford in 1647. The differences be- 
tween these two parties in the First Church of Hartford con- 
tinued during the entire period from about 1650 to 1669, 
and were known as the "Hartford Controversy." They di- 
vided the churches of Connecticut and the churches of New 
England. They caused the calling of a synod in Massachu- 
setts which promulgated what was known as the " Half Way 



i4 Samuel £>ia&e Benton 

andrew Covenant " of 1 657 and produced the following extraordinary 
benton legislation by the General Court of Connecticut in 1658: 
^f, " This Court orders that henceforth no persons in this Juris- 

diction shall in any way imbody themselves into Ch. estate with- 
out consent of the Generall Court & approbation of the neigh- 
bo' Ch.s. This Court orders that there shall bee no ministry or 
Ch. administration entertained or attended by the inhabitants 
of any plantation in this Collony distinct & seperate from & 
in opposition to that wh ch is openly & publickly obserued & 
dispenced by the settled & approued Minister of the place, 
except it bee by approbation of the Gen r all Court & neighbo 1 
Ch s ," March 11, 1657/8. (Pub. Rec. Conn., Vol. I. p. 311.) 
As absence from public worship was then punished in court 
by a fine of five shillings for each offence (Code 1650, p. 23 ; 
Pub. Rec. Conn., Vol. I. 522), this law practically compelled 
Andrew Benton and all who shared his views to worship with 
those from whom they differed in fundamental doctrine un- 
der penalty of a fine. 

The real question at issue in the " Hartford Controversy" 
was whether the Congregationalism of Hooker and the Cam- 
bridge Platform, which recognized no authority except that 
of the members of each individual church, called " visible 
saints," should be superseded by a Congregationalism which 
recognized a power in the minister and in associations or 
synods outside of the churches to control the action of in- 
dividual churches. Questions of baptism, of right to full com- 
munion by reason of church membership in other churches, 
of the powers of ruling elders, and countless other subordinate 
matters, entered into the discussion, but at bottom it was 
simply a contest between those who sought to restore a Pres- 
byterian order of regulation of individual churches, and those 
who stood for the fundamental doctrine that Congregation- 
alism rests upon the absolute independence of a company 
of "visible saints," or members of each particular church. 
Andrew Benton stood steadily with the minority in the First 
Church for the old doctrine, which was the vital principle of 
Congregationalism. It was only by their unflinching opposi- 
tion to the majority that a reaction was stayed which would 
inevitably have resulted in the displacement of pure Congre- 



$ts Ancestors 15 

gationalism by a form of church government that Hooker and andrew 
his followers left England to escape. It is hardly too much to benton 
say that the sturdy minority of the First Church of Hartford L^Z 
saved New England Congregationalism from destruction. 

In January, 1677, Andrew Benton and Andrew Benton, 
Jr., each received a lot of ten and a half acres in the division 
of the undivided lands which were granted by a Committee 
of the Proprietors to "such of the Town of Hartford as they 
shall see in need of the same, and as they shall judge it may 
be advantageous," upon condition that the grantees should 
not sell the same until the lots were fenced and improved. 
February 17, 1669, he was chosen viewer of fences. (Hart- 
ford 'Town Votes, p. 140.) He appears to have had charge 
of the meeting-house, for the record shows that at a town 
meeting December 29, 1676, "the Town gave to Andrew 
Benton for sweeping the meetinghouse 3 pounds per an- 
num;" September 10, 1677, he served as juror in Hartford. 

No record has yet been found to show when Hannah 
Stocking, the first wife of Andrew Benton, died, but it was 
probably about 1670. Andrew Benton married Anne Cole as 
his second wife, and their first child, Ebenezer, was baptized 
January 4, 1673. There were three other children by this 
marriage, — Lydia, baptized February 13, 1675, Hannah, 
baptized January 26, 1678, and John, baptized May 30, 
1680, who doubtless died in infancy, as he was not living at 
the distribution of his father's estate in September, 1683. 

December 12, 1680, his lands in Hartford were recorded 
to Andrew Benton in the Hartford Book of Distributions, p. 
284, as follows: — 

" Land in Hartford, in Connecticut! belonging to Andrew 
Benton & His heirs forever: One parcell of land on which 
his dwelling house now standeth which he bought of Capt n 
John Tallcott and John Allyn (Agents empowered by the 
General Court of Connecticutt May 14 1668) Containing 
by estimation three roods be it more or less abutting on a 
highway leading to Wethersfield on the East, and on a high- 
way leading to Farmington on the North, and towards the 
West, and on Thomas Hosmer his land South. More one 
parcell of upland which he bought of the sayd John Tallcott, 



1 6 Samuel £>laDe Benton 

Andrew John Allyn &c containing by estimation twenty acres be it 
benton more or less, and abutts on a highway West, and on Mr. 
^2 Willys and Mr. Whitings land East, and on Mr. Richards 
land North, and on Samuel Moody his land South. These 
parcells of land were formerly Nath. Greensmiths and now 
sold to Andrew Benton, and recorded to him March nth, 
1 67 1. More: one parcell of upland which was given him by 
George Stocking to be to him and his heirs that he hath by the 
sayd Stocking's daughter, containing by Estimation eight acres 
be it more or less, and now by exchange with Samuel Moody 
the sayd land doth abutt on a highway on the East, and on 
the North, and on Sam 11 Moody on the West and on land 
formerly Tho. Seldens, now Nath. Coles on the South." 

The first of these parcels was at the junction of the roads 
leading to Wethersfield and Farmington on the west side 
of what was then known as Wethersfield Lane, and is now 
Wethersfield Avenue, and was the first lot below what is 
called "South Green." It was originally the homestead 
of Nathaniel Greensmith, who with his wife, Rebecca, was 
charged with having bewitched Anne Cole, and was convicted 
of witchcraft, and executed at Hartford, in January, 1662. 
After its purchase by Andrew Benton he lived there. His 
wife Hannah doubtless died in the house, and he and his 
second wife, Anne Cole, both died there. The house has 
been moved away, and only a portion of it is still standing, 
but the accompanying picture of a similar house built by 
Hosmer on the adjoining lot about the same time, doubtless 
shows the Benton house as it was when Andrew lived in it. 
The record of the Court as to the transfer of this place to An- 
drew Benton is as follows: "May 22nd, 1668, This Court 
empowers Mr. Sam 11 Willys Capt n . Tallcott and the Secretary 
to make a deed of sale to Andrew Benton of Nath : Green- 
smiths house and land which was seized for charge expended 
on s d Greensmith and sold to G: [Goodman] Benton." (Pub. 
Rec. Conn., Vol. II. p. 91.) In the distribution of Andrew's 
estate in 1685, this lot with house and barn was sold to his 
son, Joseph, for eighty-five pounds, and he sold it to Samuel 
Kellogg, June 22, 1693. 

The second parcel was on the east side of what is now 



tyis Ancestors 17 

Washington Street, north of the junction of Webster Street, andrew 
Four acres of this lot were probably given to Andrew, Jr., by benton 
his father when Andrew was married, about 1 676, and he built i_^ 
and lived upon it. At the death of Andrew, Sr., the remain- 
ing sixteen acres were divided equally between his four sons, 
Andrew, Samuel, Joseph, and Ebenezer, at the valuation of 
seven pounds an acre, which gave Andrew with his home 
lot eight acres. Afterwards sixteen acres of this property 
passed into the ownership of Samuel, the son of Andrew, 
who gave it by will to his son Moses, in 1746. Most of this 
sixteen acres is now included in the grounds of the " Re- 
treat for the Insane." The third parcel of upland was lim- 
ited by the conveyance of it to the children of Andrew and 
Hannah Stocking, and was therefore not included in the 
inventory or distribution of Andrew's estate. 

Anne Cole, the second wife of Andrew Benton, was said 
to have been bewitched when a girl by Nathaniel Greensmith 
and Rebecca, his wife, in 1662. A full account of this matter 
was given in a letter by the Rev. John Whiting, pastor of 
the First Church, and afterwards of the Second Church, in 
Hartford, to Rev. Increase Mather, in 1682, published in 
Mass. Hist. Coll., Series IV. Vol. VIII. pp. 466-469. 

This letter was entitled "An account of a Remarkable 
passage of Divine providence that happened in Hartford in 
the yeare of our Lord 1662." The part of it relating to 
Anne Cole specially is as follows: — 

"The subject was Anne Cole (the daughter of John Cole, 
a godly man among us, then next neighbour to the man and 
woman that afterward suffered for witchcraft,) who had for 
some time been afflicted and in some feares about her spirit- 
uall estate: . . . She hath been and is a person esteemed 
pious, behaving herselfe with a pleasant mixture of humility 
and faith under her heavy sufferings, professing (as she did 
sundry times) that she knew nothing of those things that 
were spoken by her, but that her tongue was improued to 
express what was never in her mind, which was matter of 
great affliction to her. Since the abatement of her sorrows she 
is joined to the church, and therein been a humble walker for 
many yeares. And since also married to a good man, hath 



1 8 Samuel Siafce Benton 

andrew borne him severall children, and in her constant way aproved 
benton herselfe truely godly to the charity of all observers: — : 
^f^ " The matter is, That Anno. 1662. This Anne Cole (living 

in her father's family) was taken with strange fitts, wherein 
she (or rather the Devill, as 't is judged, making use of her 
lips) held a discourse for a considerable time. The generall 
purport of it was to this purpose, that a company of famil- 
iars of the evill one, (who were named in the discourse that 
passed from her) were contriving how to carry on their mis- 
chievous designes, against some and especially against her, 
mentioning sundry ways they would take to that end, As 
that they would afflict her body, spoile her name, hinder her 
marriage, &c, . . . And then after some time of unintelli- 
gible muttering, the discourse passed into a Dutch tone (a 
family of Dutch then living in the town) . . . Judicious M r 
Stone (who is now with God) being by, when the latter dis- 
course passed, declared it in his thoughts impossible that one 
not familiarly acquainted with the Dutch (which Anne Cole 
had not at all been) should so exactly imitate the Dutch 
tone in the pronunciation of English: — Sundry times such 
kind of discourse was uttered by her, which was very awefull 
and amazing to the hearers: M r Sam" Hooker was present 
the first time, and M r Joseph Haines, who wrote what was 
said, so did the Relator also, when he came into the house, 
some time after the discourse began. — Extreamely violent 
bodily motions she many times had, even to the hazard of 
her life in the apprehensions of those that saw them: And 
very often great disturbance was giuen in the publick wor- 
ship of God by her and two other women who had also 
strange fitts. Once in speciall, on a day of prayer kept on 
that account, the motion and noise of the afflicted was so ter- 
rible, that a godly person fainted under the appearance of 
it : — : The consequent was, That one of the persons presented 
as actiue in the forementioned discourse (A lewd, ignorant, 
considerably aged woman) being a prisoner upon suspition of 
witchcraft, the court sent for Mf Haines and myselfe to read 
what we had written; which when Mr Haines had done (the 
prisoner being present) she forthwith and freely confessed 
those things to be true, that she (and other persons named 



tyis ancestors i 9 

in the discourse) had familiarity with the devill. &c. . . . andrew 

"This with the concurrent evidence, brought the woman benton 
and her husband to their death as the devill's familiars, and ^^, 
most of the other persons mentioned in the discourse made 
their escape into another part of the Country. After this exe- 
cution of some and escape of others, the good woman had 
abatement of her sorrows, which had continued sundry yeares, 
and she yet remaines maintaining her integrity, walking therein 
with much humble comfort, after her so sore and amazing af- 
fliction : : The works of the Lord are great, sought out of all 
them that have pleasure therein. 

" Rev d and deare Sir, — I had thoughts of sending the pre- 
cedent account before now, but I could not (nor yet can) 
find my papers wherein I wrote what came from Anne Cole 
in her fitts. However I have gathered up the maine'sum, 
and now send it: if you think fitt to insert the whole or any 
thing of it, not varying the substance, it is left with you." 

A condensed account of this case is given by I ncrease Mather 
in his "Essay for the Recording of Illustrious Providences," 
Ch. 5. Another account is also found in "A Case of Witch- 
craft in Hartford," by C. J. Hoadley, in the Connecticut Mag- 
azine, November, 1899. 

Andrew Benton was evidently respected and trusted. The 
following curious provision relating to him is found in the 
will of Joseph Nash of Hartford, made January 17, 1675. 
After appointing his brother executor the testator provided : 
"Also I doe desire & appoynt my Good friends Robert 
Webster & Andrew Benton to be the overseers of this my 
will desireing them to be helpfull to my wife & daughter 
with their counsell as they may have need — as also in de- 
videing the estate & otherwise as there be occasion & appoynt 
this to be last will &c." (Prob. Rec. Hartford, Bk. 4, p. 7.) 

It is evident that Andrew Benton was a man strong in body 
and in mind, tenacious for what he believed to be right, indus- 
trious, thrifty, and honest. He began life as a poor emigrant boy 
in the rugged wilderness of New England. He reared a large 
family, performed well his duties in town and church, and 
left his children a moderate but comfortable estate, and the 
heritage of a good name. He died July 31, 1683, at Hartford, 



2o Samuel £>latie Benton 



andrew leaving no will, and September 4, 1683, an inventory of his 
benton estate, amounting to £3 4 5 ij s.gd., was taken by James Steele, 
^ Sr., and John Merrill* 

The original inventory is now on file in the Probate Court 
at Hartford, and is as follows: — 

^[ An Inventory of the estate of Andrew Benton Sene r desesed 
taken the ^.th of September : 1683: by us. 
Imp. his Aparill woolin lining hatts &c 003 13 06 

on: beed and bedstede withe firnitur be- 
longing to it: 006 10 00 
In: 7 pair of sheets and on od sheet 002 07 00 
In 7 pilow Coats i8j tabel lining 36s 6d 002 14 06 
on Cradel rug and blankett: $s two chests 

10s 2 ts fether pilows: 5 s 001 00 00 

3 great chairs : 9 s : on muskett 20s : 6 : Cush- 

ens: gs: 001 04 00 

Beeding in the littell rum 30s: 30 yards 

of tow cloth 3$ 004 10 00 

on sword and 2 pair of handlers : 5^:3 spin- 

ing wheels and a reel gs 000 14 00 

on wormin pane 3s on tube and soop in it 

4.S : too yarn 12 000 19 00 

In gib of twere yarn : 1 %s\n\lby 2 of Cotten 

yarne 13s: 6: 001 11 06 

naills 5 s on trundel bed and bed stede: 

20s: 3 chairs: 4s: 001 09 00 

In bras: 4/^ two Ioyrn potts 30s: on Ioyrn 

keetel: $s 005 15 00 

I pautter: 35s teene pans 3s: erthen ware 

6s: 6d: a our glas i2d 002 05 06 

wooden ware 6s : spoons : 2s : on Candelseek 

1 2d: two seues 2s 000 1 1 00 

on pair of stillyards : 20s : two tramells tongs 

slic and greed Ioyrn 6s: 000 16 00 

on tabel form: and meel chest $s: 3 old 

bags: 3 s 000 08 00 

* The average estate of that period in the Colony as shown by the inventories 
was about two hundred and fifty pounds. 



tyis Ancestors « 

books 10s: 4 agers: 3 chesels on squar on andrew 

sheff on hame and pair pinchers 13^. 001 13 00 benton 
two narow axes 4J : on beetell and 2 weges : l^Z> 

Ss: 000 08 00 

barells tubs and paills: 28s on chees pres: 

and a bradall 3 is 001 1 1 00 

on wooden beetell: 1^: on grinding stone 

is: 2 pair of shers: is 000 03 00 

yarn and flax in the chambers : 30s on beed : 

3 old blanketts on rug and on Cover- 

lett and boulster all: 5 or 004 00 00 

2 two new hors Colers on Cart roop: on 

hors halter 000 16 00 

on pair of crosgrners for a dor : 1 5*/: on old 

pilian: and cloth is: 6d. 000 03 09 

Chest and oatts 10s: two Corn sives: i%d 

lumber in the chamber $s 000 16 06 

about 90 bushels of mislin and rye about 

30 bushels of Indan: 018 05 00 

In chees and meet and sault 3/^ an a great 

shovell i8d 003 01 06 

In Cartt and plow and plow Ioyerns and 

chains all 004 10 00 

Iron friing pans: and a half bushell 2 s on 

cuting knif 5. 000 08 00 

In housing and homlott 85/^ in 16 acers of 

upland by m st Richards great Lotts 

112/^ 197 00 00 

In 8 acers of Land within the fenc in the 

great swamp: 020 00 00 

In 10: or 12 acers at fower mile hill 004 00 00 

In about twenty Sheep and Lams 008 00 00 

In Swin: 4/^ in two old marrs lib 006 00 00 

In two oxen 5 cowes two Calfs 3 yongCat- 

tel: all 037 00 00 

In sith forks hows and other utensells for 

husbandry &c 001 00 00 

345 °3 09 



« Samuel £>iaUe Benton 



1620 



andrew 21 pound of Sheeps wool: 

benton 28J Iron cro: 000 14 00 

James Steele Sen or two gunns that were not at home 

child? Andrew Samuell and Joseph: the 
John Merrill daughters: Marry and doray by his first 

wif : by his secont wif Ebenesar : 9 or ten 
yers old Leda about 7 ars old hana 5 
The Corne in the barne and on the ground we have not 
prisd: which as we are informd is about two acers of Sumer 
wheet: 8 acers of mislin on acer of barly on acer of oats: and 
3 acers of Indan Corne 

debts due to the estate 619 9 

debts due from ye estate 11 3 10 

[On a separate scrap of paper not copied in the records:] 
dets due from the estate 

™ ellieson Way 04 02 00 

£ Phenias Wilson 02 16 01 

* William gibbins 00 12 00 

John ballew 00 03 03 

Jonathan bull 00 10 06 

* m gardner 03 00 00 



dets due to the estate 

goodman barns of farminton 

John Wiord of Wethersfild 

du frome the estate ) 

of ieremyah addoms j 

^Cro 

due from the toune 

Richard Smith buther 

du from the estate of gorg Stoking 



II 03 


10 








01 04 


00 








00 15 


00 








01 04 


00 








00 II 


00 








01 10 


00 








01 02 


00 








13 


09 








6 19 


9 








11 


3 


10 






6 


19 


9 



4 4 1 



$ts ancestor ^ 

At a special court held December 18th, 1683, "The In- andrew 
ventory of Andrew Benton was exhibited in court & the court benton 
Grant Administration on the estate to Joseph Benton, & dis- ^Z 
tributed the estate as followeth to the widdow forty pounds of 
the personall estate to be at her disspos(e) forever & a 3 d of 
the real estate dureing her naturall Life & to Andr(ew) his 
eldest son besides what he hath received all ready fifty-fower 
pounds to Samuel Thirty fower pounds to Joseph Thirty 
fower pounds to Mary Thirty Three pounds to Dorathy 
Thirty Three pounds to Ebenezer because of his Impotency 
forty Nine pounds to Lidia Thirty Three pounds to Hannah 
Thirty Three pounds the sons to have their portion attwenty- 
one yeares of age the daughters to have their portion at eigh- 
teen yeares of age, & If any dy before they be of age his or their 
portion is to be divided amongst the survivors the Land to be 
divided amongst the sons part at present the rest in reversion 
after their mothers decease & Steven Hosmore & John Mor- 
rice are appoynted to be overseers to the children and estate & 
to distribute it to the Legatees, according to this distribution, 
& If the estate fall short it is to be born by the Legatees pro- 
portionally & If their be any adition it is to be divided accord- 
ing to this proportion." (Probate Rec, Bk. 4, p. 77.) 

^The Distribution of Good Bentons estate 

His wife be cd acording to y e court order was to 

be 40 00 00 



pd her 3 cows & 4 sheep 11 1 8 00 

a bed bedstead & furnitur 6 10 00 

an Iron kettle & pan 00 08 00 

3 brass kettles & a skylyt 02 19 00 

an iron pott & tramell 01 05 00 

frying pan & ]/ 2 bushell 00 03 00 

2 chayrs 00 04 04 

cloath yarn & flax 06 08 02 

for weaving 00 08 00 

sope & tub 00 04 00 

wheells reell & sieves 00 11 00 

tongues slice & gridiron 00 03 00 



i\ Samuel £>iatie Benton 

andrew an hour glass & fire pan oo 02 06 

benton earthen ware 00 05 00 

^Z bellows barrells tubs & payls 00 18 06 

a candle stick table & meat trough 00 06 00 

a bason poringer & spoons 00 06 09 

bookes & wooden bowles 00 10 00 

pillows & blankets 00 13 00 

3 cushens 2 pillow coats 00 11 06 
towells sheets & table cloathes 00 14 00 
a batement for debts 02 10 00 
to be payd By Joseph in corn 02 01 03 

40 00 00 

Andrew Benton cd 54 00 00 

pd him by a cow 03 13 00 

by a third part of y e teem 05 1 5 06 

by 6 sheep 02 08 00 

a bible 00 05 00 

by an axe augers hamer &c 00 12 00 

sheep sheares & a shovell 00 02 06 

cheeses & salt 00 07 06 

a tub & payll 00 07 06 

by w 1 was pd to m r way for him 02 03 10 

a hog & 2 pigs 02 03 00 

a how & fork &c 00 06 00 

4 acres of upland 28 00 00 
a bate ment for debts &c 07 08 00 
to pay by Joseph 00 08 02 

54 00 00 

Sam 11 Benton cd 34 00 00 

pd him by a gun chayr &c 01 00 00 

a bible cheeses barrells &c 01 00 03 

nayls & a fork 00 07 00 

4 acres of land in y e upland 28 00 00 

his abate ment for debts &c 04 12 10 

35 °° 01 



$ts ancestors 



2 5 



he is to pay 2<o d of y e debts. 
Mary Benton cd 

pd her by a bed & furniture 

by a heifer 

pewter & tin ware 

a brass kettle & skiner 

earthen ware & box iron 

a chayr & cushin 

table linnen & pillow beers 

sheets & towells 

10 pd yi of sheeps wooll 

a chest botls & choping knife 

5 sheep 

a chees pres & cradle 

a tramell & beding 

a cow & Bull 

a gun sword hay cutter &c 

a carpitt & bees wax 

abatement for debts &c 

by a third part of y e teem 

by an iron crow 

by Joseph Benton 



Dorittee Benton cd 

pd her by a heifer 

by a trundle bed & bed stead 

in pewter & wooden ware 

a kittle pot & skylit 

a chest & a chayr 

tabel linnen & pillow biers 

sheets & towells 

10 yd s tow cloath 

10 pd y 2 sheeps wooll 

churn & pillion 

a rug botle & cetera 



ANDREW 
BENTON 

33 oo oo 1620 



01 14 00 

03 00 00 
00 15 00 
00 18 00 
00 06 06 

00 02 10 

01 00 09 

01 00 00 
00 14 00 
00 07 00 

02 00 00 
00 03 00 

00 14 00 
05 13 00 

01 14 06 
01 00 00 

04 10 07 

05 15 06 

00 14 00 

01 00 04 

33 00 00 
33 00 00 

02 00 00 
01 00 00 
01 00 00 
00 17 00 

00 09 10 

01 01 09 
01 00 00 
01 00 00 
00 14 00 
00 04 00 
00 17 08 



26 



Samuel Slafie Benton 



ANDREW 

BENTON 

1620 



6 sheep 

a glas & Bed rug 

2 calves & 1 pigs 

a pr stilyards Bettle wedges 

oats & cheeses 

sugar hops oatmell tunell 

abatement for debts &c 

by a third part of y e teem 

by Joseph Benton 



Ebenezer Benton cd 



pd by 4 acres of land in y e upland by Mr Richards 

by 10 acres y 2 land at five mile hill 

by his fathers cloaths 

by 2 pigs & cetera 

by abatement 

by Joseph Benton 



Lydia Benton cd 



her abatement is 

to be pd by Joseph Benton 



Hannah Benton cd 

Her proportion of a batement 
to be pd by Joseph Benton 



Joseph Benton Dt to y e estate for y e house Barn 

& home lot : 
by his proportion of a batement 
by 4 acres in y e uplands 
by a gun & axe 



02 08 00 

00 12 00 

01 17 00 
00 16 06 

00 16 00 

01 04 02 

04 10 00 

05 15 06 

04 15 °7 
^ 00 00 

49 00 00 

28 00 00 

04 00 00 

03 n 00 
00 19 00 

06 13 10 

05 16 02 



49 


00 


00 


33 


00 


00 


04 


10 


07 


28 


09 


°5 


33 


00 


00 


33 


00 


00 


04 


10 


07 


28 


09 


°5 



23 OO 00 
85 00 00 

04 12 OO 
28 OO OO 
OO 12 OO 



$ts ancestors *? 

a bottle & salt oo 03 06 andrew 

a hog 01 10 00 BENTON 

1620 

119 18 04 ' — *-* 

Joseph is cred his share 34 00 00 

by what he payeth t good Benton 02 01 03 

to andrew Benton 00 08 02 

to mary Benton 01 00 04 

to dorrty Benton 04 15 01 

to Ebenezer Benton 05 16 02 

to lydia Benton 28 09 05 

to Hannah Benton 28 09 05 

104 19 10 

Joseph is to pay in debts 014 19 06 

119 18 04 

The widdow Benton hath for her thirds in y e homestead as was 
agreed half y e hous viz: y e south end & y e small room & half 
y e seller and y e use of y e well & half y e orchard & half y e gar- 
den next to it & one quarter of y e Barn & yard room for her 
cows & for woods it was agreed y l she should have y e use of 
Ebenezers Land also while he was of age 

Distributed By us 

Stephen Hosmer 
John Merritt 

A County Court held at Hartford March 5, 1684/5: 
"The distribution of the estat of Andrew Benton was exhib- 
ited in court & approved." {Prob. Rec. y Bk. 4, p. 102.) 

Ane (Cole) Benton, widow of Andrew, died April 4, 1686, 
leaving a will, as follows: — 

THE last will of Ane Benton made the twenty sixe day of 
march one thousand sixe hundred and eighty sixe being in 
sound mind and perfete memory and not knowing the day of 
my death doe Commit my Soule into the hands of my rede- 
mer and my body to a Comly buryell I doe dispose of that es- 
tate god has betrusted me with as follows I give to my Son 



28 Samuel £>lat)e Benton 

andrew Ebenezer what of my estate if not hereafter excepted if he 
benton lives to nede it y nd my will is that my dafter Lydia shod have 
■L^Z my litell brase ketell and my dafter Hanah should have my 
litell Iron pote and all my wareing aparell except won arporne 
which I give to my Son Ebenezer. all the rest both linen and 
wollen shod be devided betwene my dafter Lydia and hanah 
equeilly and allso my powder to be devided betwene them and 
my two skillets I give y m I give Lydia i fine pillebere and i 
paire of sheats and i paire of coten pilleberes and to my dafter 
Hanah i paire sheats and the best of the coten pilleberes also 
Lydia must be paid the three pounds or what I tooke up in my 
husbands aparell out of the household stuf and all these lege- 
seys to be paid them the Son at twentyone yeares and the daf- 
ters at eightene years of age and if any of them die before thay 
ataine such age then that part or parts to be to the Survifer and 
I desire my loving brother Nathaneill Colle to be my executer 
to this my Last will and testiment and in witness here of I have 
set to my hand y e yeare and day above writen in presants : 

The 
of John willson marke x of 

mathew grant Ane Benton" 

[Hartford Probate Records, Bk. 4, pp. 236, 237.) 

An inventory of her estate was taken May 14, 1686, as fol- 
lows : — 

f An Inventory off estate offwiddow Ane Benton deceased aprill 
19:86 taken may 14:86 

3 coats & a west coat 02 10 00 

an apron & hatt 00 12 00 

a coat & west coat 00 05 00 

6 handkerchiefs 3 aprons 01 10 00 

6 caps & a handkercheif 00 14 00 

stockings & apron 00 14 00 

shifts & gloves 00 14 06 

aprons & handkercheifs 00 07 00 

Linnen & silk 00 13 00 

07 19 06 



tyis ancestors 



29 



a box & chest 

some of her husbands apparrell 

childrens Blankets 

pillow Beers & linnen 

4 p r of sheets 

pillow Beers & table cloth 

towells & Napkings 

4 y ds & y 2 cloath 

6 y ds serg 

pins & buttons 

lace & galloom 

linnen cloath 

a silver spoon & bodkin 

powder 

tin & wooden ware 

kettles & pots 

a warming & frying pan 

pot hooks & tongues 

a chest & earthen ware 

tow & wooll 

feathers & sheeps wooll 

cushins & pillows 

cards & candle stick 

6 blankets 

flax & seives wheels 

a chayer & half bushell 

Bibles & bookes 

yarn 



a Bed & Bedstead & curtains 
a tub & kneeding trough 
a Table & form 
a churn & tunnell 
tubs & Barrels 
chees moats & Table 
salt & Barks 
mault & flax 



00 14 

01 17 

00 12 

01 01 

02 10 
00 15 
00 15 
00 14 

02 08 
00 04 
00 06 
00 10 
00 07 
00 15 
00 10 

03 10 
00 10 
00 02 
00 10 

00 13 

01 04 
00 09 

00 04 

02 01 

01 00 
00 04 
00 15 
00 15 



1620 



OO ANDREW 
OO BENTON 

OO 
OO 
OO 
06 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 
06 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 
06 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 
OO 



25 l6 06 

03 08 OO 

OO 04 06 

OO 03 06 

OO 03 OO 

OO 08 06 

OO 04 OO 

OO 06 OO 

OO 09 OO 



30 Samuel £>iatie Benton 



andrew Behives & Tramell oo 09 00 

benton pork&Suitt 01 13 00 

vL^S cheeses & a cheyer 00 06 00 

coverlids pillows 01 17 00 

a box & pewter 00 15 06 

1 skyllits 00 09 00 

pillow Beers & Napkins 00 06 06 

11 02 06 

1 cowes 08 00 00 

6 sheep & 3 lams 04 00 00 

a sow 00 14 00 

4 hogs 03 00 00 



15 14 00 



Tottall 60 12 06 

Taken By us 

Stephen Hosmer 
Ichabod Wells 



Children of Andrew Benton 



JOHN, born at Milford, April 9, 1650, died May 24, 
1650. 
Hannah, born at Milford, November 23, 165 1 , died 
probably after 1669 and before 1678, at Hartford. 

Andrew, Jr., born at Milford, Connecticut, and bap- 
tized August 14, 1653, married Martha Spencer, the daugh- 
ter of Thomas Spencer of Hartford, Connecticut. She was 
born May 19, 1657, and they were probably married in 1 676, 
as their first child, Hannah, was baptized in the Second 
Church, January 6, 1677. The church record also shows that 
on that day Andrew Benton, Jr., "owned ye covenant." He 
and his wife were admitted to the Second Church December 
10, 1694, and he died at Hartford February 5, 1704, leaving 
an estate which was inventoried at 94 pounds, 3 shillings, and 
4 pence, but which proved to be insolvent, and of which his 
brother Samuel was appointed administrator March 9, 1704. 

Mary, born at Milford, Connecticut, April 14, 1655, 
married Nathaniel Cole of Hartford, October 23, 1685. He 
was a son of John Cole and a brother of Anne Cole, An- 
drew Benton's second wife. Nathaniel Cole died April 20, 
1708, and Mary then married Jonathan Biglow, who died 
January 9, I7ii,aged sixty-two. March 19, I7i3,she mar- 
ried Deacon John Shepard of Hartford. June 3, 1751," Mary 
Shepherd, formerly Mary Benton, daughter of Andrew Ben- 
ton, deceased," quitclaimed her right as a "co-heir" to the 
estate of Andrew Benton to any land in Hartford on the east 
side of the great river unto Moses Benton. ( Hartford Re c- 
ords,VoL VIII. p. 387.) She died at Hartford, December 23, 
1752. 

John, born October 7, 1656, at Milford, doubtless died 
in childhood. 

Samuel, born at Milford August 15, 1658, died April 10, 
1746, at Hartford. A sketch of him will be found at page4i. 



3^ Samuel £>laUe Benton 



1620 



Andrew Joseph, probably born at Hartford in 1661, married first 
Benton a daughter of Deacon Paul Peck, Sr., of Hartford. She died 
January 27, 1680, and was buried in Hartford. He then mar- 
ried Sarah, daughter of Bevil Waters, at Hartford, February 
10, 1697. (Rec. Second Church, Hartford, p. 238.) He died at 
Kent, Connecticut, August 12, 1753, at the age of ninety- 
three. 

Dorothy was probably born in 1663 or 1664, at Hart- 
ford. There is no record of her except that she appears by 
the inventory of her father's estate to have been a child of 
Andrew's first wife, Hannah, and that she was living at An- 
drew's death in 1683. 

Ebenezer, the only son of Andrew and Anne (Cole) Ben- 
ton, was born in Hartford and baptized January 4, 1673. 
He was of feeble mind, and upon the distribution of his 
father's estate in 1683, when he was nine or ten years old, he 
was allowed a larger share than the other heirs " because of 
his impotency." He lived with his mother until her death, 
when his uncle, Nathaniel Cole, became his guardian. By the 
will of Nathaniel Cole, made April 17, 1708, he left one 
third of his movables to his wife, adding, "my said wife to 
let Ebenezer Benton have a bed out of it." He also made 
further provision for his ward as follows: "Also my will is 
that Ebenezer Benton should be maintained by my wife and 
my son jointly so long as my wife shall remain my widow, but 
if she should marry that then my son, Nathaniel Cole, shall 
take care to maintain him during his natural life, if my son 
Nathaniel Cole shall live to survive him, and that then my 
said son shall have what estate was given to maintain the 
said Ebenezer Benton not yet disposed of for his mainte- 
nance." The widow of Nathaniel Cole married John Biglow, 
probably in 1709, and Ebenezer became the ward of Na- 
thaniel Cole, Jr., who evidently did not comply with the will 
of his father, as the General Court of May, 171 8, "empow- 
ered Capt. Cyprian Nichols, Dea. Thomas Richards & Sar- 
gent James Ensign to sell the lands of Ebenezer Benton for 
his support and maintenance for the future." (Pub. Rec. 
Conn., Vol. V. pp. 1 1 1, 112.) This committee by their deed, 
dated February 19, 1719/20, conveyed to Samuel Benton, 



fyis ancestors 33 

Sr., "four acres of upland and ten acres at five mile hill, andrew 
which was granted to Ebenezer at the distribution of his benton 
father's estate," in consideration that he and his heirs, ex- C^ 
ecutors, administrators and assigns should care for Ebenezer 
"under his impotency" and "well support him both in sick- 
ness and health" during the rest of his natural life. I have no 
other record of Ebenezer except the reference to him in the will 
of his nephew, Jacob, the son of Samuel, who speaks of having 
some interest in land in Hartford from his uncle Ebenezer, 
which shows that he died before 1760, the date of that will. 

Lydia, daughter of Andrew and Anne (Cole) Benton, 
was born in Hartford and baptized February 13, 1675. She 
was admitted to the Second Church of Hartford, April 26, 
1697. I have no further record of her. 

Hannah, daughter of Andrew and Anne (Cole) Benton, 
was born in Hartford and baptized January 26, 1678. She 
married Edward Scofell of Haddam, Connecticut, February 
20, 1699. He died April 21, 1703, and his widow, Hannah, 
married Benjamin Smith sometime before May 20, 1706. 

John, baptized in the Second Church, Hartford, May 30, 
1680, died before July, 1683. 

The following records of the Second Church of Hartford 
show how faithful the descendants of Andrew in Hartford 
were to the church of which he was one of the founders. 
Andrew Benton and his wife received December 10, 1694. 
Joseph Benton received March 8, 1696. 
Lydia Benton received April 25, 1697. 
Sarai wife to Joseph Benton received March 15, 171 2/13. 
Samuel Benton, Sen r received September 23, 1716. 
Daniel Benton, September 21, 171 8. 
Jacob Benton, received June 23, 1723. 
Caleb Benton received March 28, 1725. 
Hannah, wife to Caleb Benton, received February 20, 1725. 
Martha Benton, wife of Josiah Clark, received in 1799. 
Prudence Benton, received in 1808. 
Betsey Benton, received in 1808. 
Hepzibah Benton, received in 1821. 
Jerusha Benton, received in 1831. 




34 Samuel £>laDe Benton 

Lavinia Benton, received in 1 83 1 . 
Harriet Benton, received in 1838. 

^[ Baptisms 

Phinehas, Son to Jacob Benton, January 17, 1730. 
Asa, Son to Ebenezer Benton, February 28, 1 730/1. 
Ebenezer, the son of Andrew Benton, January 4, 1673/4. 
Lydia, the daughter of Andrew Benton, February 13,1 674/5. 
Hannah, the daughter of Andrew Benton, Jun r , who this day 

owned the covenant, January 6, 1677/8. 
Hannah, the daughter of Andrew Benton, Sen r , January 

26, 1678/9. 
Martha, the daughter of Andrew Benton, Jun r , August 1, 

1679. 
John, the son of And: Benton, Sen r , May 30, 1680. 
Andrew, the son of Andrew Benton, Jun r , July 31, 168 1. 
Mercy, the daughter of Andrew Benton, 7ber 9, 1683. 
John, the son of Andrew Benton, February 22, 1684. 
Hannah, the daughter of Sam: Benton, March 19, 1688. 
Dorothy, the daughter of Andrew Benton, Aprill 22, 1688. 
Ebenezer (the son of Andrew) Benton, October 18, 1696. 
Jacob (the son of Sam") Benton, September 26, 1698. 
Elizabeth (the daughter of Andrew) Benton, February 12, 

1698/9. 
Ruth (the daughter of Joseph) Benton, February 12, 1698/9. 
Moses, the son of Samuel Benton, May 3, 1702. 
Isaac y e son of Joseph Benton, February 14, 1703. 
Lydia, daughter to Sam" Benton, August 26, 1705. 
Medad, son to Samuel Benton, junior, Att what time he 

owned his Coven 1 , Nov: 4, 1705. 
Jonathan, son to Sam" Benton, Juni r , September 7, 1707. 
Timothy, Son to Samuel Benton juni r , March 19, 1709/10. 
Jehiel, Son to Joseph Benton, January 28, 17 10. 
Eunice, daughter to Samuel Benton, jun r , June 22, 171 2. 
Kezia, daughter to Joseph Benton, September 19, 17 14. 
Mary, daughter to Samuel Benton, Juni r , May 29, 171 5. 
Samuel, son of Samuel Benton, Jun r . August 11, 17 17. 
Sarai, daughter to Samuel Benton, Juni r . August 16, 17 19. 
Andrew, Son to Joseph Benton, August 23, 17 19. 



tyis ancestors 35 

Hannah, daughter to Caleb Benton, July 31, 1720. andrew 

Martha, daughter to Joseph Benton, November 13, 1720. benton 
Ebenezer, son to Ebenezer Benton. w n he made publick con- ^^Z 

fession of his sin. April 30, 1721. 
Caleb, Son to Caleb Benton, February 4, 1721. 
Anne, daughter to Ebenezer Benton, December 16, 1722. 
Violet, daughter to Caleb Benton, December 8, 1723. 
John, son to Ebenezer Benton, November 15, 1724. 
Abraham, son to Caleb Benton, April 11, 1725. 
Abigail, Daughter to Jacob Benton, September 19, 1725. 
Mary, daughter to Ebenezer Benton, February 26, 1726/7. 
Jacob, son to Jacob Benton, January 12, 1728. 
Sarah & ) Twin children to Caleb Benton, February 23, 
Susanna J 1728/9. 

Sally, Daughter of Samuel Benton, April 27, 1794. 
Moses, Son of Samuel Benton, Private, Sick. March 10, 1797. 
Andrew, Son of Samuel Benton, Nov r 9, 1800. 
Maria Benton, Adult. Nov. 4, 1821. 

^[ Baptisms in the South Church by Ministers of other Churches. 
George, Son of Sam 1 Benton. September 23, 1792. 

^[ Marriages 

April 24, 1794 Ithamar Colton, Hartford, to 

Miriam Benton, Hartford. 
December 18, 1794 Amos Thompson, Hartford, to 

Eunice Benton, Hartford. 
November 8, 1795 Oliver Terry, Hartford, to 

Prudence Benton, Hartford. 
June 18, 1797 Chauncey Benton, Hartford, to 

Betsey Bidwell, Hartford. 
September 13, 1798 Erastus Wells, Hartford, to 

Nabby Benton, Hartford. 
Septem r 14, 1800 George Benton, Hartford, to 

Mitty Steele, Hartford. 
October 8, 1800 Ezra Corning, Hartford, to 

Wid: Hannah Benton, Hartford. 
September 22, 1801 Timothy P. Perkins, Hartford, to 

Jerusha Benton, Hartford. 



36 



Samuel t>labe Benton 



ANDREW 

BENTON 

1620 



November 20, 1803 James Benton, Hartford, to 
Eunice Stanley, Hartford. 

October 15, 1804 George Corning, Hartford, to 
Hannah Benton, Hartford. 

September 10, 1807 Rev. Oliver Wetmore, Trenton, 

N. Y., to 
Chloe Benton, Hartford. 
Frederic Lathrop, Hartford, to 
Martha Benton, Hartford. 
David North, Berlin, to 
Sally Benton, Hartford. 
William Benton, Hartford, to 
Lydia Burt, Hartford. 
Roderic Seymour, Hartford, to 
Emily Benton, Hartford. 
Daniel Fish, Falmouth, to 
M. Fanny Benton, Hartford. 



May 8, 1808 
April 6, 1 8 14 
June 25, 18 15 
September 8, 18 16 
May 9, 1820 



Tf Deaths 

August 10, 1792 

Decern' 28, 1795 
March 10, 1797 

April 23, 1803 
January 26, 1804 

November 9, 1805 
January 9, 1807 

May 25, 1807 

February 16, 18 10 

February 28, 181 1 
March 20, 181 1 

May 24, 181 1 



William Benton ; died at the south- 
ward some time since, 16 years. 

Nath l S. Benton; cancer, 37 years. 

An Infant child of Samuel Benton; 
10 Days. 

Samuel Benton; complex, 52 years. 

An Infant child of Chauncey Ben- 
ton, 14 Hours. 

John Benton; paralysis, 81 years. 

Catherine, Daughter of Nath 1 Ben- 
ton Dec d , 12 years. 

Prudence, wife of Josiah Benton; 
consumption, 42 years. 

A child of Reynolds Benton; i 
month. 

Asa Benton; suddenly, 69 years. 

Reynolds Benton; consumption, 

43 Y ears - 
Wid: Ruth Benton; old age, 86 

years. 



$is ancestors 37 

September 30, 18 14 Ebenezer Benton; fever, 32 years, andrew 
February 20, 18 16 Prudence Benton; spotted fever, benton 

37 years. ^ 

February 15, 18 19 Wid: Elizabeth Benton; old age, 

95 years. 
June 5, 18 19 Wid: Jerusha Benton; complex, 

76 years. 
July 26, 1820 George, Son of George Benton; 

fever, 15 years. 
May 19, 1823 George Benton; peripneumony, 45 

years. 
August 8, 1823 George Benton; insanla, 37 years. 

May 9, 1824 Jane Benton; drowned, 30 years. 

^[ Baptisms 1 824-1 859 

, 1824 Jerusha, daughter of Mitta Benton. 

July 4, 1 824 Lavinia P., daughter of Mitta Ben- 

ton. 

, 1824 Julia, daughter of Mitta Benton. 

July, 1830 Maria Wells, daughter of Andrew 

Benton. 



Samuel Benton 

1658-1746 



Samuel Benton 

1658-1746 



SAMUEL BENTON, son of Andrew Benton and 
Hannah (Stocking) Benton, was born at Milford, Con- 
necticut, August 15, 1658. His father removed from 
Milford to Hartford when Samuel was a small child, and he 
lived all his life in Hartford. He married, probably at New 
Haven, Sarah, daughter of William and Mary Chatterton of 
New Haven, where she was born July 19, 1661. {New Haven 
Births, Marriages, and Deaths, Bit. 1, p. 26.) No record of 
the marriage is to be found, but their first child, Samuel, was 
born at Hartford, January 28,1680. December 28, 168 2, when 
Samuel Benton was twenty-four years old, he was "granted a 
small piece of land to set a house upon, near Jonathan Web- 
ster's house." (Hartford 'Town Votes, p. 169.) In the distribu- 
tion of the estate of his father in 1683, he received: — 
"Sam" Benton cd. 34 00 00 

pd him by a gun chayr &c 01 00 00 

a bible cheeses barrells 01 00 03 

nayls & a fork 00 07 00 

4 acres of land in y e upland 28 00 00 

his abatement for debts &c 04 12 10 

35 00 01 
he is to pay 20 d of y e debts." 

March 1 1, 1686, he was recorded in Hartford Book of Dis- 
tributions as owning "One parcell of Land lyeing Neer the 
road Leading to farmington containing by estimation fower 
acres be it more or less & abutts on m r Richards his Land 
North on the Highway West on Joseph Bentons land South 
& on m r Willys & m r Wells there Land on the east, which 
was distributed to him as part of fethers estate by those ap- 
poynted by the court to doe it. 

"One parcell which was given him by his Grand fether 
Georg Stocking Lyeing near the wolfe pound containing by 



4^ Samuel £>iaDe Benton 

samuel estimation fower acres & a butts on the highway on the east 
benton on Thomas Bunce his Land South on John Stockings Land 
Jf5f West & on Joseph Bulls Land North." 

He was Surveyor of Highways in Hartford in 17 13 and 
1 7 14, and in 171 5 he was a selectman. (Hartford "Town 
Votes, pp. 233, 240.) September 23, 1716, he was admitted 
to the Second Church of Hartford, as Samuel Benton, Sr. 
He was a large land-owner in Hartford and in Tolland and 
Harwinton, and was evidently a prominent and enterprising 
citizen. He was one of the grantees in a deed by the trustees 
constituted by the Connecticut Assembly in May, 17 15, to 
the First Proprietors of the Town of Tolland, May 11, 1719. 
His son, Samuel Benton, Jr., and his brother, Joseph Ben- 
ton, Sr., and his nephew, Joseph Benton, Jr., were also gran- 
tees in this deed. (Waldo s Early History of 'Tolland, pp. 80, 
81.) At the Court held March 9, 1703/4, he presented an 
inventory of the estate of his deceased brother, Andrew Ben- 
ton, who had died intestate ; and was granted letters of ad- 
ministration on said estate provided he gave bonds as the law 
directs. This he did the 27th day of March, 1704, in the sum 
of ^100, to make his return by March, 1705. (Prob. Rec, 
Bk. 7, p. 54.) This estate appears to have remained unsettled 
for about five years. Although Samuel, as administrator, had 
received in May, 1705, from the General Court, authority to 
sell Andrew's house and lot (Pub. Rec. Conn., Vol. III. p. 
485), he does not appear to have made the transfer till Feb- 
ruary 5, 1708/9, when the sale was made to Samuel, Jr. 
(Land Rec, Vol. I. p. 448). He was appointed guardian 
of John and Mary, children of his brother Andrew, April 
12, 1704. ( Id. y Bk. 7, p. 56.) September 5, 1709, he was ap- 
pointed guardian of Ebenezer, son of his brother Andrew. 
(Td.y Bk. 7, p. 1 23 •) August 8, 1 7 1 1 , he was allowed £ 1 1 gs. 
on account of services in aid of the expedition against Canada. 
(Pub. Rec. Conn., Vol. IV. p. 263.) February 19, 1720, he 
was given by the Court the care of his half-brother, Eben- 
ezer, who was "impotent in body and in mind." February 
20, 17 1 9, he made a deed to his son, Daniel Benton, as fol- 
lows: — 



$fs Ancestors 43 

KNOW al men by these presents that I Samuel benton Sen r . samuel 
of the towne of hartford and colony of Conectecut hus- benton 
bandman for and in consideration of love good wil afeclions ^°£; 
which I have and do have unto my loveing Son daniel benton of 
the same towne and county batcheldor hav given and granted 
and by these presents do frely clearly and absolutly give and 
grant unto the s d . daniel benton his heirs execetors and ad- 
minestrators a sertaine tract or parcel of lands lying and be- 
ing situate in tolland in the county aforesd containeingby este- 
mation forty acres be the same more or les with al other 
devisions thereunto belonging buted and bounded as followeth 
east on Joshowah lomes West on a highway south on barnebus 
hinsdel and north on ephraem hickox which sd tract or par- 
cel of land I have given to him the sd daniel benton his heirs 
execetors and adminestrators from hence fourth and forever 
as his proper inheretance absolutly without any maner of 
condetion in witnes whereof I have heareunto set my hand 
and seal this twenteth day of feberwary in the fifth yeare of 
the reigne of our Soveraigne lord george by the grace of god 
King of england Scotland france and Ireland defender of the 
faith anno domine one thousand Seven hundred nineteene 
Signed sealed and delivered 
in presence of us 

Edward dod Samuel Benton Sen!! (Seal) 

Johnathan hinckley 

hartford May 17: 17 19 then Samuel benton Sen r . the granter 
came before me the under wrighter and acknowledged the 
foregoing instrument to be his volentary act and deed before 
me Aaron Cook Justis of the Peace 

this foregoing Instrument was recorded by me Joseph benton 
towne dark 

He was one of the original proprietors of Harwinton. 
This proprietorship is connected with a very curious in- 
cident in Connecticut history. When James II. appointed 
Andros to be president and captain-general over New Eng- 
land, the Connecticut Colony, fearing that ungranted lands, 
that is, lands not granted to any particular plantation or 
town, would be seized by the Crown, granted to the Planta- 



44 Samuel SlaUe Benton 

samuel tions of Hartford and Windsor a large trad: of land called 
benton "Western Lands." Afterwards the Colony assumed to treat 
^5 8 these lands as its own, without regard to the grant to Hart- 
ford and Windsor, and this brought about a conflict between 
the Hartford and Windsor claimants, who sought to treat 
the lands as theirs under the Colonial grant of the officers of 
the Colonial government. This resulted in a riot and jail- 
breaking at Hartford. Finally the matter was settled by a 
division of the lands, the western half to the Colony, and the 
eastern half to Hartford and Windsor; and May 22, 1729, 
the Colonial authorities gave a patent of the eastern half, or 
division as it was called, to Hartford and Windsor. These 
towns divided this share equally between them, and three 
townships were made from Hartford's share and three from 
Windsor's share, leaving a remainder owned jointly by Hart- 
ford and Windsor, sufficient for another township, of which 
each town owned one-half. This remainder was divided into 
eastern and western portions, the eastern portion being given 
to Hartford and the western to Windsor proprietors. The 
two portions were then incorporated, in May, 1732, and 
May, 1733, as the town of Harwinton, the name being, as 
it is said, constructed from the first syllables of Hartford 
and Windsor, with the addition of "ton," meaning town. 
Hartford appears to have granted its portion to proprietors 
according to their tax valuation, and Samuel Benton was one 
of these proprietors. August, 1732, before the incorporation 
of Harwinton, he gave the following curious conveyance of 
his share as a proprietor in these lands to his son Jacob: — 

TO all Christian people to whom these presents shall come 
Greeting know y e that I Sam 11 Benton of Hartford in the 
county of Hartford and Colony of Coneticutt in New Eng- 
land for and in consideration of Love Goodwill and affection 
whitch I have and do Beare to my dutifull and well beloved 
son Jacob Benton of sd Hartford do fully freely and abso- 
lutely Give Grant Convey and confern unto him my sd son 
Jacob Benton and to his heirs and assigns forever viz: — all 
my right title interest posesion and property whitch I ever 
had or that I now have of in or unto any part or ("parst") 



tyis ancestors 45 

or parcells of a certain tract of Land Comonly called the West- samuel 
ern Land formerly Granted to the townships of Hartford and benton 
windsor Lying and being within the aforesaid Colony of ^5^ 
Coneticutt and as my said right share and property Doth or 
may arise and accrue to me more Especially by action of my 
List of Estate given AD 1720 amounting to the sum of one 
Hundred and twenty pounds and ten shillings money how 
ever the same may be Drawn laid out or Divided or buted 
and Bounded as of my right to have and to hold the above 
Granted premises to gether with all the previledges and ap- 
purtenances to the sam — Belonging or in any wise apper- 
taining unto him the said Jacob Benton his heirs and assigns 
forever and to his and their only proper use and (behoof) as 
a good sure and absolute Estate of inheritane in fee simple 
the same Being free & Clear and freely and Clearly ajusted 
and Discharged of and (from) all and all maner of former or 
other Giftes Grants Lases Sales Leases wills Entails joant- 
ers Dewvies Judgments Executions or other Incumberances 
whatsoever and in witnes hereof I the said Sam 11 Benton have 
hearunto set my Hand and seal ye Day of august annodomini 
one thousand seaven Hundred and thirty two 
Signed sealed and Delivered 
in pr of Sam ll Benton ( and seal) 

Icabod Welles 

Elizabeth Wyllys Hartford ss. September 5* 1732 

August y e 11? 1756 then M r Sam" Benton parsonally 

Reed the aforegoing deed appeared and acknowledged the 
recerd and hear above wri ten Instrument by Him 

have recerded it at Lerge Executed to be His free act and 
test Abijah Catling Deed Before Hez Willys Just 

town Clerk peace 

( ' Harwinton Rec. y Bk. 1, p. 418.) 

Samuel Benton's house, in which he lived, stood on the 
east side of the road leading to Farmington, now Washington 
Street. In the distribution of his father's estate in 1683, he 
had four acres of land on the east side of this road, and 
bounded on the north by Mr. Richards' land, on the east by 
Mr. Wyllys' and Mr. Wells', and on the south by land of 



46 Samuel SiaDe Benton 

samuel his brother Joseph, containing four acres, which Joseph had 
benton received from his father's estate. March 30, 1701, Samuel 
^5f bought of Joseph his four-acre lot. Nathaniel Cole had a 
four-acre lot next that of Joseph Benton, and this Samuel 
bought April 28, 1709. February 19, 1720, he acquired the 
four acres belonging to Ebenezer, thus giving him sixteen 
acres in his home lot, the title to which remained in him until 
his death, when he gave it to his son Moses by will. Most 
of this land is now in the grounds of the "Retreat for the 
Insane." 

In the record of the Session of the General Assembly for 
May, 1720, is this curious entry with regard to a claim made 
by Samuel Benton: — 

"Upon the petition of Samuel Benton of Hartford, pre- 
ferred to this Assembly in October last, the town of Hart- 
ford by the Worshipful William Pitkin and Major Joseph 
Talcott, Esq rs , and Joseph King for himself, appeared, pur- 
suant to the order of this Assembly in October, and were 
heard in their arguments wherefore the charge demanded by 
the petitioner for the keeping a certain man, who was some- 
time taken for Nathaniel Wilson, otherwhile for John Clem- 
ents, should not be cast upon them: Whereupon this Assem- 
bly, observing that the overtures of Providence in that case 
were strange, unheard of and unaccountable, the evidence on 
both sides unusually strong and peremptory, to that degree 
that the certain truth is not likely to be gain'd by human 
testimony, and that final judgments in the law, till reversed, 
must be accounted among the most infallible human evidence 
of undoubted truth; and further observing, that the charge 
demanded did arise for the keeping the said man whilst by 
judgment of law known by the relations of Nathaniel Wil- 
son, and acquiest in, was declared and pronounced to be 
Nathaniel Wilson, agreeable to the concurrent opinion of 
all men hearing thereof: This Assembly do resolve and order, 
that the accounts of the charge be examined and adjusted by 
the judge of the probate in Hartford; that what shall be so 
adjusted and allowed shall be reimbursed and paid out of the 
estate of Nathaniel Wilson within three months next coming; 
and that for want of such payment to be made by the heirs 



$t0 ancestors 4 ? 

of the said Nathaniel Wilson, it is hereby ordered, that Capt. samuel 
Aaron Cook, with Mr. Nathaniel Stanly of Hartford, shall benton 
pursue the order of this Assembly made on the 1 2th of May, ^f 
1709, wherein full power was granted to Capt. Aaron Cook 
and Mr. Richard Edwards, to sell so much of the housing 
and lands belonging to Nathaniel Wilson of Hartford as might 
be needful for his support, for the payment of the account 
aforesaid." (Pub. Rec. Conn., Vol. VI. pp. 162, 184.) 

The Hartford Town Records , Book I., of Land Records, 
show the births and the Records of the Second Church, the 
baptisms of children of Samuel Benton as follows: January 
28, 1680, a son, Samuel, born; September 28, 1685, a daugh- 
ter, Sarah, born; March 14, 1688, a daughter, Hannah, born, 
and baptized March 19, 1688; December 9, 1691, a daugh- 
ter, Abigail, born; March 1, 1694, a son, Caleb, born; June 
25, 1696, a son, Daniel, born; September 21, 1698, a son, 
Jacob, born, and baptized September 26, 1698; April 26, 
1702, a son, Moses, born, and baptized May 3, 1702; Au- 
gust 26, 1705, a daughter, Lydia, baptized. 

The following deed given by Samuel and Sarah Benton in 
1 72 1 shows the relation of Samuel to the Chatterton family 
and is otherwise interesting: — 

KNOW all men that we Joshua Hotchkis with Susanna 
my wife of New Haven in the County of New Haven 
Sam" Benton with Sarah my wife of Hartford in the County of 
Hartford and Marcy ffranciss of Wethersfield in sd County 
of Hartford widdow for Divers weighty Causes and Consid- 
erations but more Especially for that tender love and affection 
that our Brother John Hotchkis of Wallingford in sd county 
of New Haven has shown to our aged Mother Mary Chat- 
terton whom our said Brother supported for more than four 
years Last past: Have Remised Released and for Ever quitt 
clamed and by these presents we the said Sam" Benton Sarah 
Benton, Marcy ffrancis and Joshua Hotchkis Susanna Hotch- 
kis do fully freely firmly and absolutely Remise Release and 
for Ever quitt clame unto the sd John Hotchkis in his full 
quiet and peacable possesion and seizen being one Certain 
piece or percell of Land Containing three acres Lying and 



48 Samuel £>laDe Benton 

samuel being in Coopers quarter in sd New Haven being Bounded 
benton Eastwardly by Land formerly belonging to James Heaton 
^f£; westerly by Theophilus Munsons Land, Northerly by Brad- 
lys Land and Southwardly by John Blacklys Land, To have 
and to hold all sd percell of land with the appurtennances to 
the same belonging unto him the sd John Hotchkis his heirs 
and assigns for Ever; as his and their own proper and abso- 
lute Estate of Inheritance in fee simple; and we the above 
Named Samuel Benton Sarah Benton Marcy ffrancis and 
Joshua Hotchkis Susanna Hotchkiss do hereby utterly Barr 
and for Ever Exclude our Selves our heirs Executors and 
admin rs from all and Every action sute tryall Challeinge and 
demand for or towards the Recovery of sd percell of Land or 
any part thereof from the sd John Hotchkis his heirs Execu- 
tors admin rs or assigns; 

In witness where of we have signed sealed and delivered 
this Instrument this Thirteenth day of May in y e Seventh year 
ofy e Reign of our Sovereign Lord George of Great Brittain 
King &c Anno Domini 1721. 

Signed Sealed & delivered Sam ll : Benton Seal 

In presence of us her 

Tho: Richards these two of Hartford Sarah x Benton Seal 
Stephen Brace signed and sealed mark 

Sam 11 Benton Sam 11 Benton and her 

Jacob Benton Sarah his wife per- Mercy x ffrances Seal 
Caleb Tuttle sonally appeared in mark 

Caleb Hotchkiss Hartford this 6 th 
day of December 
1722 & acknowledged 
the within written In- 
strument to be their 

free voluntary act Joshua Hotchkiss Seal 
and Deed Before me her 
Nathan" Stanly Susanna x Hotchkis Seal 
Jus 1 Peace mark 

Marcy ffrancis within named personally appeared in Wethers- 
field the 8 th day of December 1722 & acknowledged the within 
written Instrument to be her free act and Deed Before me 
Daniel Goodrich Justice of Peace. 



tyis Xnttstoxs 49 



The above is a true Record of the originall deed January samuel 

30 th I 72^ BENTON 

fSAM LL Bishop Clerk x *& 

(New Haven Land Records^ Bk. 6, p. 367.) 

April 4, 1744, he made his last will, which was allowed at 
a Probate Court, June 3, 1746, as follows: — 

IN the Name of God Amen this fourth Day of April 
AD. 1744. I Samuel Benton of Hartford In ye 
Colony of Connecticut! Being Advanced. In years Even 
to Old Age And Labouring under Bodily Infirmitys 
though of Sound mind & memory thanks be to God 
therefor Calling to mind the mortality of my body, know- 
ing y l it is appointed for man once to dye Do make and 
ordain this my Last will and Testament, that is to Say 
principally And first of all I Give and Recommend my 
Soul Into the hands of almighty God y l Gave it And my 
body I Recommend to the Earth by a Decent and 
Christian Burial att yf Discretion of my Executors 
Hereafter named Nothing Doubting but att yf Gen- 
eral Resurection I shall Receive yf Same Again by yf 
mighty power of God. And as touching such worldly 
Estate wherewith it hath pleased God to bless me with 
In this Life after my Just Debts and Necessary Ex- 
pences are paid. I Give and Dispose off yf Same In yf 
following manner — 

Imp'. I Give and bequeath unto my. Dearly, beloved Wife 
Sarah one third part, of my Moveable Estate for Ever, 
also I Give her one third part of my Real Estate for 
her Improvement During her natural life — 

Item. I Give unto my Son Samuel Benton besides what I have 
formerly Given to him by Deeds of Gift a Certain peice 
or parcel of land Containing Eight Acres more or Less 
Lying In Hartford In yf west Division Commonly So 
Called Butted north on Land of Jonathan Easton west 
on Land of Samuel Benton East and South on yf high- 
way and on yf Common to be to him and his Heirs for 
ever — 

Item. I Give to my Son Caleb Benton besides what I for- 



5 o Samuel £>iaDe Benton 

samuel merly Gave him one Hundred and twenty pounds 

benton Money. I paid towards y e purchase of his House Barn 

^^, and homlott. also I give to my Sd Son Caleb Benton 

and to his Heirs for Ever forty acres of Land In my 

Western Right att Harwinton — 

Item. My will is that the Land in Tolland I formerly Gave 
to My Son Daniel Benton by a Deed Shall be In full 
of all his portion from my Estate — 

Item. I Give to my Son Jacob Benton besides what I have 
formerly Given him all y e Remainder of my Western 
Right, of Lands In Harwinton to be to him and his 
Heirs for Ever — 

Item. I Give to my Son Moses Benton And to his Heirs 
for Ever All yf Lands Belonging to me In Hartford 
(Excepting what I have before Disposed off) with all yf 
buildings thereon and appurtenances thereto belong- 
ing— 

Also I give him two Oxen two Horses Cart and plow 
Harrow Timber Chain plow Chain and all Tackling 
belonging to y e Same, also I give him a Cow an axe 
a hoe. and a spade, also I give him a Weavers Loom 
and Tackling belonging to yf Same. — 

Item. I Give to my Daughter Sarah twenty Shillings old 
Tennor to be paid her by my Executors within three 
months after my Decease — 

Item. I Give to my Daughter Lidia Benton one Feather bed 
and furniture to it Blankets and Sheets I also Give her 
one Cow and Six Sheep, also I Give her a room In 
my house to live In So long as She Shall live unmar- 
ried, and My will is y l all yf remainder of my move- 
able Estate not all ready Givem away be Equally Di- 
vided amongst my three Daughters Hannah Abigail 
and Lidia att Inventory price. And further my will is 
that if my wife Should Dye before me then the third 
part of my Moveable Estate I have given to her be 
Equally Divided to my three Daughters Hannah Abi- 
gail and Lidia as aforesaid. — 

Item. I do hereby Constitute Appoint and ordain My Son 
Moses Benton and Lidia Benton to be Sole Executors 



tyis ancestors 51 

of this my Last will and Testament And I do hereby samuel 

utterly Disalow Revoke and Disanull all and Every benton 

other Testament will and Executons. by me In any wise vl^f, 

before willed or named. Ratifying and Confirming this 

and no other to be my Last will and Testament. In 

wittness whereoff I have hereunto Sett my hand and 

Seal, the Day. and Year above written — 

Signed Sealed published 

& Declared by y? Sd Samuel Samuell benton (Seal) 

Benton to be his Last will 

And Testament, in the 

presence off — 

Joseph Buckingham ^ 

Tho Richards V Witnesses 

Jonathan Ensign J 

(Probate Rec, Bk. 15, p. 13.) 

When this will was made Samuel Benton had given a con- 
siderable portion of his real estate to his sons. His eldest 
daughter, Sarah, had evidently displeased him, and when we 
see by the date of her marriage that she was only sixteen 
years old, we may infer that perhaps she made a runaway 
match. He gave her only twenty shillings "old tenor," that 
is, in the bills of credit issued by the Colony, and so depre- 
ciated that the twenty shillings were really worth only one 
shilling. Sarah was thus practically "cut off with a shilling." 

His sons, Samuel and Daniel, were then prosperous citi- 
zens of Tolland. Jacob was the leading citizen of Harwinton. 
Caleb was married and living on his own place in Hartford. 
But Moses, the youngest son, and his sister Lydia were liv- 
ing at home, caring for their aged parents. Samuel probably 
made them executors of his will for this reason, as it was then 
usual to make the eldest son executor and quite unusual to 
make a daughter executrix when there were sons. He also 
gave the homestead to Moses, and a room in the house to 
Lydia to live in as long as she remained unmarried. At the 
time of her father's death she was forty-one years old, and 
probably never married but continued to live in the room 
given her until her death. 



5^ Samuel Slafie Benton 

samuel No inventory of Samuel's estate is to be found, but he 

benton doubtless left a comfortable estate, as he was an active, enter- 

^5f, prising man, with excellent capacity to acquire and manage 

property. The following is a facsimile of his signature to 

his last will now on file in the Probate Court. 



He died April 10, 1746, at the age of eighty-eight years, 
and was buried in the cemetery at Hartford, April 1 1, 1746. 
This is shown by the entry on that day in the diary of the 
Rev. Daniel Wadsworth, pastor of the First Church, the entry 
being under that date: "This day Samuel Benton Interred," 
but there is not as yet any other record found of the death, 
and no tombstone marks the spot where he was buried. 
(WadswortKs Diary y p. 130.) 




Children of Samuel Benton 



A LL the children of Samuel Benton were born in Hart- 
ZA ford. 
JL .m. Samuel Benton, Jr., born January 28, 1680, mar- 
ried Mary Pomeroy, daughter of Medad and Experience 
(Woodward) Pomeroy, of Northampton, Mass., January 2, 
1704, and died at Tolland, Connecticut, February 8, 1763. 

Sarah, born September 28, 1685, married Moses Black- 
ley, Jr., of Guilford, January 11, 1702, when she was about 
sixteen years old. She was living when her father made his 
will in April, 1744. 

Hannah, born March 14, 1688, married Samuel Kellogg, 
of Hartford, May 11, 171 1. Her husband died before Jan- 
uary 18, 1 7 13, as she was admitted to the Second Church of 
Hartford at that time as " Wid. Hannah Kellogg." She mar- 
ried a second time Joseph Root, of Farmington, Connecticut, 
October 20, I7i6,and had several children. She died at Farm- 
ington. 

Abigail, born December 9, 1691, owned the covenant in 
the Second Church, April 12, 1741. She was living in 1744, 
and is mentioned in her father's will of that date. 

Caleb, born March 1, 1694, married Hannah, daughter 
of Thomas Ensign of Hartford, probably in 17 18 or 1719, 
as their first child,. Hannah, was born at Hartford, June 27, 
1720, and baptized in the Second Church, June 31, 1720. 
He was admitted to the Second Church, June 27, 1725, and 
his wife, Hannah, was admitted to the same church, Febru- 
ary 20, 1725. He lived all his life at Hartford on a place 
towards the purchase of which his father gave him one hun- 
dred and twenty pounds, and he died at Hartford, July 25, 
1776. Letters of administration on his estate were granted to 
his wife, Hannah, and his sons, Abraham and Thomas, De- 
cember 2, 1755. (Hartford Prob. Rec, Bk. 17, p. 87.) 

Daniel, born June 25, 1696, was admitted to the Second 



j4 Samuel &lat»e Benton 

samuel Church of Hartford, September 21, 171 8. He marriea Mary 

benton Skinner, daughter of John and Rachel (Pratt) Skinner, Jan- 

^£5 uary 3, 1722. She was born at Hartford, May 28, 1704, and 

died at Tolland, December 17,1 766. In 1 7 1 9, his father gave 

him land in Tolland, Connecticut, and he moved to that town, 

where he afterwards lived, and died July 25, 1726. 

Jacob, born September 21, 1698. A sketch of him follows 
at page 57. 

Moses, born April 26, 1702. A sketch of him is found at 
page 71. 

Lydia, baptized in the Second Church at Hartford, Au- 
gust 26, 1705, was living with her father at the time of his 
will in 1744, probably unmarried. 



Jacob Benton 

1698-1761 



Jacob Benton 

1698-1761 



JACOB BENTON, the third son of Samuel Benton and 
Sarah (Chatterton) Benton, was born at Hartford, Sep- 
tember 21, 1698, and baptized in the Second Church, 
September 26, 1698. His father was a large land-owner in 
Hartford and elsewhere, one of the selectmen, and one of 
the leading citizens of Hartford, and Jacob appears to have 
received more than the usual education of boys at that 
time. 

April 3, 1723, he bought of his brother Samuel, who had 
removed to Tolland, the place on which Samuel had lived in 
Hartford, containing eight acres of land with house and other 
buildings thereon for one hundred and thirty pounds. This 
eight acres was the original home lot of Andrew Benton, Jr., 
and was purchased by Samuel Benton, Jr., February 5, 1708, 
after the death of Andrew. It was on the east side of what is 
now Washington Street, north of its junction with Webster 
Street, and south of the homestead of Jacob's father, Samuel 
Benton. A portion of it is now included in the grounds of 
the "Retreat for the Insane." July 6, 1724, Jacob married 
Abigail Carter, the daughter of Joshua and Martha (Skinner) 
Carter, of Hartford. She was a member of the First Church, 
admitted to full communion April 28, 1717, and the mar- 
riage was in that church. (Hist. Catalogue, First Ch. y Hartford, 
p. 243.) They went to live on the place he had bought of his 
brother Samuel, and he resided there until 1736 or 1737. 
Abigail, the daughter of his first wife, and his sons, Jacob, 
Phineas, Amos, and Barnabas, children of his second wife, 
were all born in this house. March 10, 1741, Jacob sold this 
place to Deacon Joseph Holtom, of Hartford, for a consid- 
eration named in the deed of four hundred and eighty pounds. 
(Hartford Rec, Bk. 6, p. 41 1 .) About the year 1 800 the house 
was moved across the street farther to the north, and it now 
stands on the west side of Washington Street. It does not 



5» Samuel SlaDe Benton 

Jacob appear to have been changed, and the accompanying picture 
benton doubtless shows it substantially as it was when Jacob Ben- 
^_^_, ton lived in it. September 20, 172,5, his wife Abigail died in 
this house, and April 4, 1728, he married, in the First 
Church, Elizabeth Hinsdell, daughter of Barnabas and Mar- 
tha (Smith) Hinsdell of Hartford, where she was born Jan- 
uary 9, 1703. 

December 11, 1729, he was chosen surveyor of highways 
for the "South Side" in Hartford, and December 12, 173 2, he 
was chosen grand juror. (Hartford Town Votes, Vol. II. pp. 69, 
78.) His father was one of the original proprietors of Harwin- 
ton, a town about twenty miles from Hartford, and in Au- 
gust, 1732, he conveyed a portion of his right in this grant 
to his son Jacob, in consideration of the "love, goodwill, and 
afFedion" which he bore to his son. In May, 1736, Jacob 
with others petitioned the General Court for "authority to 
embody in Church estate and be incorporated as a town by 
the name of Harwinton," but authority apparently was not 
given, for October 4, 1737, another memorial for the same 
purpose was presented to the General Court, which stated 
that the population of Harwinton was then one hundred and 
sixty-one, of whom twenty-four were heads of families. Jacob 
Benton signed this memorial as "Senior Deacon," showing 
that the Harwinton Church had then been organized. Har- 
winton was incorporated as a town in Odober, 1737. The 
Ad: of incorporation recited the petition of the "Inhabitants 
of the Plantation called Harwinton " &c, and " Resolved that 
said Plantation be a Town Jncorporate Known by the name 
of Harwinton and Vested with Town Priviledges as Other 
Towns in this Colony Established by Law are, and that a Tax 
of two pence pr. Acre shall be Assesed & Levyed upon all the 
Lands within the Bounds of said Town Annually for the Space 
of four years, next after the Session of the Gen 1 Assembly in 
May next in Lieu of any former Grant or Tax, and that the 
Collectors for the Time being in said Town shall annually Col- 
led said Tax, who are hereby Authorized and Jmpowred to 
Colled the same as Other Collectors of town Rates by Law 
are & having Collected the same, said Collectors are to deliver 
the same to such Committee or Committees from Time to Time 




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$ts ancestors 59 

as said Town shall make Choice of for that purpose, and to be jacob 
by them Applyed and Jmproved, for the Support of the Gos- benton 
pell Ministry and Building a Meeting House in said Town, ^£ 
and it is further Resolved that said Jnhabitants have Liberty to 
Jmbody themselves into Church Estate and Settle an Ortho- 
dox Minister of the Gospell in said Town with the Advice 
and Consent of the Neighbouring Churches, and it is further 
by this Assembly Resolved that the Letter A shall be the 
brand for Horses in the Town of Harwinton." (History of 
Harwinton, p. 105.) 

The first town meeting was held at Jacob Benton's house 
in Harwinton, December 20, 1737. He was then chosen town 
clerk, chairman of the board of listers and rate-makers, and 
town treasurer, and was also made a committee to receive and 
dispose of the land-tax money that the General Court might 
order. He was town clerk from 1737 until 1741. The original 
records kept by him are still in existence in good condition, 
and the accompanying is a facsimile of the first page. It is in- 
teresting to his descendants not only as being an accurate rec- 
ord by him of his family at that time, but as showing that he 
was a good penman for the times. Few town records of that 
date are as clear and accurate as those kept by him. The first 
earmark recorded in Harwinton was "December 20, 1737, 
Jacob Bentens ear mark for his Creatures is a Cross on the near 
ear."* He was clerk of the Proprietors of East Harwinton 
from 1736, and was selectman of Harwinton in 1742, 1743, 
1744, 1748, 1749, 1754, 1755, 1758. In 1758 hewas a Deputy 
from Harwinton to the General Assembly. He was also sealer 
of weights and measures for several years, and held other minor 
offices at various times. It is apparent from the records that he 
was the most active and prominent citizen of the town for many 
years, both in town and church affairs. 

April 21, 1738, at a town meeting held at his house he 
was put on "A Commeete to treet with Mr. Andrew Bar- 
tholomew in order to asettelment in the work of the Menes- 
terry A mongst us and to Lay the Propossels y r Allready 
haue been Proposed before him and to bring his Answer if 
any bemad to the next meeting for a further Confirmation. 

* The letter was then often written as we now write the letter e. 



60 Samuel SiaDe Benton 

jacob And it is farther uoted that the said Commeete or any tow 
benton of them Shall make ther A Plication to the next Association 
l_^_l f° r there advice in order to the Settelment of a minister amongst 
us." ( Harwinton Records, Bk. i ; History of Harwinton, p. 58.) 
At a meeting of the Proprietors of East Harwinton, he was 
also put on a committee to lay out the land to be given to 
the ordained minister. (Ibid., p. 60.) 

He was quite active in school matters, as appears by the 
following town votes: — 

" 20 Jan., 1 741/2. Uoted : that : wee will : haue schooling 
sum part of the year. Uoted that theire be three : pence upon 
the pound leued upon the Grand List in order to Maintain 
a School in the town. Uoted that Jacob Benten and Jonathan 
Hopkins and Nathan Davis Be a Commity in order to pro- 
uide a Sofisiant School master and mistress for the year in- 
suing in the town. Uoted that the School for the Jnstru&ing 
the youth to Right and Read for two months this year Be att 
the Dweling House of Jsarael Merimon. Uoted that the Rest 
of the Mony Be left to the Discresion of the Commity to Lay 

out upon School Dames 9 June 1743. Voted that any 

parson or parsons Joyning to gether to Build a School house 
in the town of Harwinton shall have Liberty to Build a School- 
house Sumwhere Neer the Meeting Hous upon there one 
cost. Uoted that Jsrael Merrimon and Daniel Bartholomew 
Be a Commity to Determin the place whare the Schhol House 
Shall Stand. 13 Jan., 1745/6. Voted that there Shold be a 
School house built in Sum Cenvenient place near the meet- 
ing house in Said Town. 1 7 Feb., 1 745/6. it is now Voted that 
y e above Said School house Shold butt Sumwhar neare y e 
SouthEast corner of y e R d : M r : Andrew Bartholomew y l Ly- 
eth West of yf meeting house or near there as y e Comiitis des- 
cresion Shall Lad them. Voted that y e above menshoned 
School house Shall be Eighteen feet in length & Sixteen feet 
in Wedth one Story high. Voted that De: n Jacob Benton & 
Daniel Bartholomew & Jonathan Butler Shall be a Commity 
to order & See to y e building & finishing of y e above Said 
Schoolhouse. Voted that all y e boards & Timber & Stone 
that was Left in finishing of y e Loar part of y e meeting 
house Shall be made Use of So fare as it will Go for the beni- 



$ts 2tnce0tors 61 

fit of the above Said School house in any Use as sd Com- jacob 
mity Shall See fit about sd house. 15 Dec, 1747. this meet- benton 
ing (begun at the Meeting-House,) is aiorned to the School ^O, 
house in y e above Said town this meeting being opned at said 
School house they proseded uiz — Uoted that Amaziah Ash- 
man Shall be a town Inhabitant in this Town. Uoted that 
there Shall be a Rate Leued on poles and Ratabel Estats in 
this town of Seventy pounds money of the old tener to De- 
fray the Charge of Building the Schoolhouse in this town in 
this year. Uoted that there Shell Be Twenty pounds in money 
of the old tenor Leued on poles and Ratabele Estats in this 
town in order to maintaining of a Schoole a mongst in this 
town in the year Insuing. Uoted that D e Jacob Benton & 
daniel Bartholomew & Samuel Phelps Shall be a Commitus 
to Recceve and pay out the above Said money for Schooling 
as there Disscreshon Shall Lead them for the Best advantage 
for Educating yuth amonst us in this town for the year Jn- 
suing. 13 Dec, 1748. Uoted that there Shall be Eighty 
pounds in money of the old tenon Leved on pols and Ra- 
tabel Estats in this town in order to Cary (on) Schooling in 
this town the one half of it is to be improued to hire a School 
master as fare as it Shall Go in this town for the year insuing 
and the other half is to be improued to hire School danes in 
this town for y e year Insuing. Uoted that d e Jacob Benton 
and Samuel Phelps and Daniel Bartholomew and Daniel 
Phelps and Capt Daniel Messenger Shall be a Committee 
to order and a point a School master and School mistrises in 
this town in the year insuing and to Receive in and pay out 
the above Sum of money for the use aforesaid according to 
there Discresion for the Laming of the youth a mongst us 
to w(r)ight and Reade. 3 Dec, 1750. Voted that there be 
Sixty pounds leved for the hiring a School master to teach 
Children to Read & write Cypher the one half to be Raised 
by the town and the other half to be by the parents or mas- 
ters of the Children that they Send to Said School. 

"Voted that there Shall be Forty pounds Raysd for the hir- 
ing of two women to teach Children to Read the Schools to 
be kept the one East Side of the town at Such Place as the 
Committee that Shall be Chosen Shall a point; to be Raised 



62 Samuel £>iaDe Benton 

jacob one half by the town the other half by the parents and mas- 
benton ters of the Children that they send according to the number 
^98 t hey send 

"Voted that Ebenezer Hopkins Isaac Bull and Abijah Cat- 
ling Shall be a Committee to order the prudentals of the 
Schools in hiring a School master and School mistrises and 
disposing the money that was Voted for School according to 
the true intent for what it was Granted. 3 Dec, 1 75 1 . Voted 
that there Shall be one hundred pounds in money of the old 
tenor Raised in this Town for Schooling of Children in or- 
der to teach them to writ and Read the one half of s d money 
to be Raised on the Ratetabel Estate of the inhabitants and 

the other half to be Raised upon the poles of Such 

Children as Shall be Sent (to) School the above money to be 
divided upon the List on Each Side of the town and Im- 
proved as the Committee that Shall Be Chosen Shall order 
the same in one Shool or more and to apoint the places to 
keep the Schools and git school masters for y e same Voted 
that Ebenezer Hopkins and Abijah Catling and Lt Aaron 
Cook and Israel Merriman and David Hayden and decon 
Daniel Phelps Shall be a Comm(ittee) to apoint the Places 
for the Schools and dispose of the School money for the Use 
for which it is voted for. 

"20 Dec, 1752. Voted that we will have a School in this 
town for the year Insuing to wit one month on the East Side 
of the town and one month at the School house in this town 
& one month on the West Side the Town Voted that their 
Shall be £60 00s : ocW in money of the old tenor Leived on 
the one half of it Leived on the Ratable Estate in this Town 
and the other half of the s d money to be Leived on the poles 
of Such as Go to School in order to maintain a school among 
us Voted that Cyprian Webster & Samuel Phelps & De n 
Jacob Benton Shall be a Commetee to apoint places for Said 
School and to hire a School master for said School. 1 8 Sept., 
1 753. Voted that their Shall be Seventy Pounds money Levied 
on the poles & Ratable Estates of the Inhabitants of this 
Town to Defray the Charges of the meeting house and of 
the Schooling that we have had Done allready in this Town 
this year & pay for a Cloth to Cover the Ded that is all- 



$ts Ancestors 6 3 

ready provided in this town" (Hist, of Harwinton, pp. 42, jacob 

43,44,45.) BENTON 

"20 March, 1753. voted that the proprietors will dispose }_^Z 
of the undevided Land the interest of S d money to Support 
a School in the west propriety of Harwinton." (From Records 
of "the west propriators of harwinton, "Ibid., p. 45.) 

All the town meetings were held at Jacob Benton's house 
until January, 1741, after which they appear to have been 
held at the meeting-house. 

Before pews were made in the body of the meeting-house 
the men sat on the right side of the house and the women 
on the left side, and the town assigned the seats by vote. 
February 17, 1746, the town voted that Jacob Benten (Ben- 
ton) and others named should "Sit in y e pew under y e Stares 
at the west end of the meeting house," &c. In December, 
1752, the town voted to raise fifty pounds in money, old 
tenor, to be " Leved on the Ratable Estate in this Town to 
defray the Charg of Building of the Pews in the Body of the 
meeting house." Jacob Benton was made chairman of a " Com- 
metee to Look after and See that the Pews be made in the body 
of the meeting house and to draw the said 50 pounds in money 
and dispose of it to the workmen that doe the work." Also 
chairman of a committee " to be Seeters of the meetinghouse 
after the pews are made in the Loer part of the M eeting H ouse. " 

Jacob Benton and Elizabeth Hinsdell Benton had five 
children: — Jacob, born January 8, 1728/9 at Hartford; 
Phinehas, born January 10, 173 1/2 at Hartford; Amos, born 
November 10, 1732, at Hartford; Barnabas, born January 
3, 1733/4 at Hartford; and Elizabeth, born June 17, 1738, 
at Harwinton. 

Jacob Benton died November 23, 1761, at Harwinton. 
The entry in the Town Records is " Deacon Jacob Benton of 
Harwinton Died the 23rd day of November, 1761, in the 
sixty-second year of his age." He was buried in the "Old 
Cemetery" at Harwinton, though no stone now stands to 
mark the spot. He appears by the Town Records to have 
been a considerable land-owner in Harwinton, and although 
there is no inventory of his estate from which its amount can 
be ascertained, I think he left more than an average estate 



6 4 Samuel Siafce Benton 

jacob for the times. He made his last will December n, 1760, as 

BENTON follows: 

1698 

IN the Name of God amen : y e 11 th Day of June A? Dom° : 
1760. I Jacob Benton of Harwinton In the County of 
Litchfield & Colony of Conneclicutt in New-England, being 
at this present time Under Somewhat of Indisposition of Body : 
Nevertheless through y e goodness of God Enjoying Sound- 
ness of Mind & Memory: & Calling to mind my own mor- 
tality & y l it is appointed unto man to die, I Do therefore 
make & ordain this my last will & Testament, hereby, Re- 
voking & Disannulling all former or other wills, Testaments 
or Executors by me Made — 

And first of all I Recommend my Soul into the hands of 
God my faithfull Creator : hoping for the forgiveness of all my 
Sins, through the Merits, Righteousness & Mediation of 
Jesus Christ my Saviour & Redeemer: I Recommend my 
Body to y e Earth to a Decent Buriall according to the Dis- 
cretion of my Executors hereafter Named : & as touching 
Such worldly Estate or Goods as God hath pleased to bless 
me with in this Life, I Give Demise & Dispose of the Same 
in Manner following — 

First I Do Give to my Eldest Son Jacob Benton, my 
Sixth or Last Division of Land in Harwinton, which Con- 
sists of Two Parts or Lottments, the one Containing twenty 
two acres & one Perch, the other five acres as may be Seen 
in the Survey Bill on Record having heretofore given him 
part of his portion; & in particular a featherbed with the 
furniture there-off which he hath now in possession — 

I Do also Give him my Meadow lott which Lieth west 
of Cyprian Websters Esq' being on the other Side of the 
highway from his house : & Contains about thirty three acres 
and an Half, be the Same more or less. I also give him my 
Great Bible. 

I Do also give to (my Grand child) Phinehas (y e Son of 
my Son Jacob) one yoke of oxen: or the Value of a good 
yoke of oxen out of my Moveable Estate ; in Case he arrives 
to y e age of 1 1 years ; otherwise, I give y e above Specify ed 
to my Son Jacob: — 



tyie ancestor© 6 5 

I Give also to my Grandchild, Elizabeth; viz: my Son jacob 
Jacob's Daughter, my best bed with all the furniture there- benton 
off; & my big Chest with Drawers & the Box that Usually ^J9° 
Standeth thereon, & also my Great table, & my Great black 
Chair & three of y e Small black Chairs; my best looking 
glass & Two platters & two plates, all which things here 
mentioned If She Should not live to possess or dispose off; 
or have heirs to possess & Inherit y n my will is that they 
Should be my Son Jacob's & his Heirs for ever — 

Secondly : I Give to my Son Amos Benton the one half of 
the Lott on which his Dwelling house Now Stands, having Al- 
ready Given him the other half by Deed of Gift, the whole 
Lott Containing about 57 acres; I give him also my Lott 
which Lyeth & is Bounded Upon y e Highway North of 
his dwelling house; Sf lott lying on the North Side of Sf 
Highway, & Contains about 50 acres; I give him also my 
weaving loom & y e tackling or furniture which belongs there- 
to, which he hath Now in possession. — 

Thirdly I give to my Son Barnabas Benton, my Home- 
lott or Homestead, with the Buildings thereon ; the lott being 
about 64 acres. I Give him also my Lott that is North & 
in the Same teer with my Homelott, being a lott that I 
Bought of Dan. u Hinsdell & Contains Fifty Six acres; & is 
Bounded North on land belonging to Jonathan Butlers 
Heirs, & South on Land Now belonging to Janna Gris- 
would: — 

I Give him also my great Kettle & my Great Pot, & the 
Remainder of my Chairs : which I have not already disposed 
off, also my Gun & my Small looking Glass & my Dish 
Kettle. 

Fourthly: I Give my Daughter Abigail one Cow; & also 
So much out of my Moveable Estate as with the Cow Shall 
Make Seven Pounds taking y e Cow & S d Moveables as they 
Shall be prizdby the Executors of this my will ; I give her also 
an Equal part with my children y l is to a Say a fourth part 
of my Books (the great Bible excepted) being already dis- 
posed off: which with what She hath already had is to be 
Understood as her whole Portion — 

And Now having Some Rights of land not as yet men- 



66 Samuel £>iatie Benton 

jacob tioned, viz: In New Haven, which fell to me by my Hon- 
benton oured Mother, Sarah Benton & in Hartford by my Uncle 
1^9° Ebenezer Benton — & also in Harwinton In all undivided 
Lands : & if there Should be any belonging to me other- 
where Not here mentioned: my will is y l all & every S d 
Rights Should be Equally Divided between my Sons Jacob, 
Amos & Barnabas. 

Moreover as there Remains yet Some Moveable Estate 
not disposed off I Do give in the first place to my Son 
Jacob one Cow & Six Sheep or y e worth & value of them 
out of my Moveable Estate. 

& in the Next place I give to my Son Amos one bed which 
I Call & is to be Understood as y e meanest bed or least worth 
with its furniture 

& my other bed Not yet disposed off I give to my Son 
Barnabas, with the furniture thereoff — 

& Now as to the Remainder of my Moveable Estate Not 
as yet disposed off My will is, that after my Just Debts 
& funerall Charges are paid ; that it Should be Equally Di- 
vided between my Sons Jacob, Amos & Barnabas — 

Moreover I Do Constitute & ordain my three Sons: viz: 
Jacob, Amos & Barnabas Executors of this my Last Will & 
Testament hereby Revoking all former & other wills & Tes- 
taments 

& Pronounce & Declare this to be my Last will & Tes- 
tament 

Made & Dated In Harwinton this II th Day of June — 
A° D° one Thousand Seven Hundred & Sixty — 

Signd Seald pronounced & Declard 

to be the Last will & Testament 

of Jacob Benton In presence off — 

Abj* Cutting Jacob Benton (Seal) 

Andrew Bartholomew 

Joseph Cook 

November the 30 day 1761 then personally appeared Abijah 
Cutting & Andrew Bartholomew and Joseph Cook the wit- 
nesses of y e aforegoing will and made oath that the above 
named Jacob Benton Signed Sealed and declared the Same 



$ts ancestors 6 7 

to Be his Last will and testament in our presence and that J AC0B 
he was in his perficl mind and memory this before me BE i6q8 N 

and we the above wit- Cyprian Webster Justice of peace 
nesses Signed in the pres- 
ences of each other. 

This will was allowed by the Probate Court, at Litchfield, 
where it is now on file, November 30, 1761, but no inven- 
tory of the estate is to be found. The following is a facsimile 
of his signature to the will. 

/fa cat? fiytitfo 

Deacon Jacob Benton was evidently a devout Christian, 
a public-spirited citizen, and an excellent husband and father, 
a good man of whom his descendants may well be proud. 



Moses Benton 
1702-1755 



IF 

I HAVE been much aided in the preparation of the fore- 
going sketches of Andrew, Samuel, and fa cob Benton by 
Mr. Charles Towneley Martin of Hartford, who has not 
only freely given me information which he had gathered, 
but has personally examined all the original records referred 
to therein. Mr. Martin is descended on his mother s side from 
Moses Benton, a grandson of Andrew, and a brother ofjacob 
Benton. His mother was a daughter of Martha Benton, a 
daughter of Samuel, the son of Moses Benton. I therefore 
print the following sketches of Moses and Samuel Benton, 
and of Martha, the daughter of Samuel, from information 
given by Mr. Martin, to show my appreciation of his as- 
sistance, although they are no part of my original plan to 
publish information only as to Samuel Slade's direffi line of 
descent from Andrew Benton. 



Moses Benton 
1702-1755 



MOSES BENTON, born at Hartford April 26, 1 702, 
and baptized May 3, 1702, in the Second Church, 
was theyoungest son of Samuel Benton, Sr., of Hart- 
ford. He lived with his father on the home place, about a 
mile and a quarter from the First Church, until his father's 
death in 1746, when the place was given to him by his father's 
will. He appears to have taken some part in town affairs, as 
he was chosen fence-viewer for the South side December 1 1, 
1729, and was chosen collector of the Town rate December 
18, 1733. He was a member of the Grand Jury in 1739 and 
one of the haywards in 1744. He was married to Merriam 
about 1740 or 1 741, as their oldest child 
died November 12, 18 15, at the age of seventy-three years. 
The most diligent search, however, does not discover any 
record of this marriage, nor is the surname of Moses' wife 
yet known. Moses Benton died at Hartford May 1 1, 1755, 
and was there buried May 12, 1755. 

The inventory of his personal e3tate made October 3, 1755, 
amounted to ^74 ! 5 s ' °^- Among other articles it included 
"Two bibles, a testament, Book of Mr. Whitfields, Wats 
hyms, Select hyms and Mr. Sheperds sound believer." No 
distribution of his real estate was made until June 30, 1773, 
when it was divided by an instrument executed by his widow 
and his children, Moses, Samuel, Martha, wife of Josiah Clark, 
Merriam, Jr., and Lydia Benton. The records of the Second 
Church of Hartford, where Moses would naturally have been 
a member, are lost between 1 73 1 and 1 790, and it is not known 
whether he was a member of the church, though the books 
contained in his inventory would indicate that he was. His 
father doubtless gave him the home estate and all his lands 
in Hartford because he had taken care of his parents in their 
old age. His wife, Merriam, appears to have been a woman 
of character and ability. When her husband died in 1755, 



ii Samuel SlaUe Benton 

moses she was left with the care of a family of small children, the 
benton youngest, Lydia, probably less than a year old. She evi- 
^2°^, dently managed all the estate left by her husband, including 
that given to his children as well as that given to her, until 
the division of the real estate in 1773. She does not appear 
to have disposed of any of the property, but to have kept the 
estate entire. She died September 30, 1776, and was buried 
October 1, 1776, at Hartford, the sexton's record being: 
"Mother of Samuel Benton, 1 Oct. 1776, age 61 years." The 
following notice of her death in the Connefticut Courant, No. 
611, October 7, 1776, shows the estimation in which she was 
held in Hartford: "Died at this place on Monday last, Mrs. 
Merriam Benton, widow of the late Mr. Moses Benton, in 
the sixtieth year of her age, justly lamented by her numerous 
children and acquaintances, was a person of a blameless char- 
acter, of a kind and friendly temper and disposition to all 
especially to the sick and distressed." 

The will of Moses Benton, executed May 8, 1755, only 
three days before his death, is now on file in the Probate Court 
at Hartford, where it was approved August 5, 1755. It is in 
the handwriting of Pelatiah Mills and is as follows: — 

IN The Name of God Amen I Moses Benton of 
Hartford in Hartford Countey beinge Weeke & 
Low in Boodely Helth but of Sound minde & Memery 
for which I Desire to Bles God I Rrememberinge y! it 
is appointed for all men once to Dye I Doe Hearby 
make & ordain this my Laste will and and Testemente 
in maner & forme as followeth — 
First & Princapely I Recomend my Sole to God that 
Gave it Hopinge therow y? Merits of a Glorus Jeseus 
toRecevey e sameatty! Reserection of y! Juste — and as 
touching y! worldly estate & Good things with which it 
Hath Plesed God to bles me After y e Payments of all 
my Dets & funerall charges I Dispose of in Maner fol- 
lowing — 

First I Give to my Well beloved Wiffe Merriam the 
use & Improvment of one Half of my Dewelinge 
House & the uese & Improvment of five acres of 
Land adjoyninge on y? South Side of my House Loot 



$ts ancestors 73 

& to Extend Easte till s d five acres be meseuered of & moses 
y! Same to use & Improve as Longe as She Shall Remain benton 
my Widow and also one third of my Loot att West U^t, 
divition and also full & free Libertey to Git Her fier 
wood of of y! Land that is Laid oute in y e Late Divi- 
tion of Hartford Comons and also one third Parte of 
my medow Land, begininge att Easte End & on y e North 
Side of my Land tackinge one third parte of y? Same 
all to be used & Disposed by Her Duringe Her Re- 
maininge my Widow — 

and furthermore I Give & Bequeth to my s d Wiffe the 
one third Parte of all my movable Goods and Stock of 
what Nature or kinde Soever to be Her own for ever — 
Item. I Give to my three Dafters Martha & Mirriam and 
Lidiah one acre & Half of Land Each of them to Have 
oute of my Medow Lott and all y? Remainder of my 
movable Estate to be thirs for ever & Equaly Di- 
vided amongste them & further my will is y l _ y? Rentes 
and Improvments of my Sons Land for y? term of 
tow years be Equeley Divided amongst my s d three 
Dafters as also all my Land in s d Hartford on y e Easte 
Side of Connecticut River — 

And furthermore I Give & Bequethe to my two Sons 
Moses & Samuell all y e Reste of my Estate in Housings 
Lands wher soe Ever y e Same Shall be to be Equely 
Divided betwen them and I Hearby macke & appoint 
Joseph Holtom of s d Hartford & my Beloved wiffe 
Merriam to be the Executors of this my Will & Tes- 
tement Hearby Declaringe & Pronouncinge this and 
this ondly to be my Laste will & testemente Hearby 
Revokinge all other & former Wills by me Heartofore 
made In Confirmation wherof I Have Hearunto Set to 
my Hand & Seall this 8 th of May 1755: 
Pronounced Published and 

Declared to be His Laste Moses Benton (Seal) 

Will & Testement in 
Presents of us as Witnises 

Caleb benton William Powill Pel' 1 Mills 



Children of 
Moses and Merriam Benton 



MARTHA, the oldest child, married Josiah Clark of 
Hartford, the intention of marriage being published 
in the church at West Hartford, July 4, 1 762. Their 
daughter, Eunice Clark, died July 1, 1774, aged ten years, 
as appears by the gravestone in the First Church graveyard 
at Hartford. 

Moses, the second child, was born in 1744. Little has been 
ascertained with regard to him. After the death of his father 
when he was fifteen years old, June 14, 1762, he made choice 
of Joseph Bunce as his guardian. (Prob. Rec, Bk. 19, p. 9.) 
At the distribution of his father's estate in 1773, he appears 
to have been living at home with his mother, and he made a 
conveyance of land in Hartford, June 12, 1783. His niece, 
Mrs. Martha Lathrop, who was living in 1878, said that he 
was never married. 

Samuel, the third child, was baptized June 18, 1749, in 
the First Church, and died April 23, 1803, as appears by the 
record of the Second Church. A sketch of him and his family 
follows. 

Merriam, the fourth child, was born in 1754, and married 
Rev. IthamarColton April 24, 1794, as appears by the records 
of the Second Church. They soon moved to Granby, Connecti- 
cut. She died July 28, 1840, at the age of eighty-six years, as 
shown by her gravestone in the South graveyard at Hartford. 

Lydia, the youngest child, married John Nevens of Hart- 
ford, and she was living in 1 773, at the time of the distribution 
of her father's estate, but the date of her birth, of her marriage, 
and of her death are not known. 

Samuel, the son of Moses and Merriam Benton, was 
baptized in the First Church at Hartford, June 18, 1749. 
November 22, 1772, he married Prudence, the daughter of 
Zebulon and Keziah (Bull) Seymour, of Hartford, where 



$ts ancestors 75 

she was born April 3, 1755. By this marriage he became con- moses 
nected with one of the most influential families of the Second benton 
Church. There is no information to be had of his early life ]J!?1> 
and education, but he was, like his father, a husbandman. 
After his father's death he and his brother Moses occupied 
the homestead which their father Moses inherited from his 
father Samuel, Moses occupying the south half, and Samuel 
with his mother the north half of the house. December 1 1, 
1776, he was chosen tythingman, doubtless for the Second 
Church, which shows that he must have been a church mem- 
ber. ('Town Votes, Vol. II. p. 257.) June 17, 1774, he mort- 
gaged the seven acres of land and the north half of the house, 
which he had inherited from his father, Moses, to Thomas 
Seymour, a cousin of his wife, to secure a debt of sixty pounds. 
July 1, 1773, the day after he received his portion in the dis- 
tribution of his father's estate, he appears to have begun 
to dispose of his lands. This might have been required by 
the hard times of the Revolution, or he might not have in- 
herited the good business qualities of his grandfather, Samuel, 
for whom he was named. However this may be he continued 
to dispose of his lands until June 3, 1783, when he with his 
brother Moses gave a deed of their home lot to Thomas 
Seymour. By this conveyance the last of the upland owned 
by Andrew Benton passed out of the Benton family. Samuel, 
however, remained in the house as a tenant of Seymour un- 
til 1790, when he removed to Cooper Lane, now Lafayette 
Street, where he lived until his death, April 23, 1803. His 
wife Prudence survived him, and died September 1, 1831. 
He was a member of the Governor's Guard and thus exempt 
from service in the regular training band, but he volunteered 
and served in the war of the Revolution about eighteen months, 
and at some time during the war he had charge of a provi- 
sion train, but no official record of his service is yet found. 
Samuel left his widow the care of a family of little children. 
To support herself and them she established a private school, 
such as was known a century ago as a " Dame School." " Miss 
Benton," as she was called, took small boys as well as girls 
into her school. She was a woman of remarkable energy, and 
her school is said to have been a good one for that time. She 



76 Samuel £>laDe Hdtnttm 

moses was an enthusiastic instructor, and kept a plentiful supply of 

benton willows at her desk. "Miss Benton " was succeeded in the school 

U^i, by Miss Thatcher, and later by Prudence Benton Lathrop, 

granddaughter of the founder. It was given up about 1850. 

Samuel and Prudence Benton had the following children : — 

Ursula, born August 24, 1773; died November 13, 1773. 

Samuel, born August 20, 1774; died October 7, 1776. 

Eunice, born July 19, 1776, who married Amos Thomp- 
son, December 18, 1794, and died at New Haven, Con- 
necticut, September 30, 1832. 

Prudence, born August 4, 1 7 7 8 . She was admitted to the Sec- 
ond Church in 1 808, and died unmarried February 20, 1 8 1 6. 

Samuel 2nd, born August 30, 1780, and died September 
8, 1780. 

James, born October 1st, 1781, married Eunice Stanly of 
Wethersfield November 12, 1803, and died in the spring of 

1837. 

Samuel 3rd, born March 3, 1784; married Hulda, daugh- 
ter of Rev. Elisha Barns, at Canaan, New York. He died at 
Ballston Springs, New York, August 15, 1863. 

Martha, born May 21, 1786, married at Hartford, May 
8, 1808, Dr. Frederick Lathrop, a lineal descendant of Rev. 
John Lathrop, of Scituate, Massachusetts. He was born at 
Lebanon, New Hampshire, August 21, 1782. In 1815 hewith 
his wife Martha and their family went to Lebanon, New 
Hampshire, where he lived until May, 1818, when they re- 
moved to Buffalo, New York. The journey was a slow and te- 
dious one, partly by team and partly by canal, and on the way 
he decided to settle at Batavia, New York. The country was 
then wild and unsettled, and they lived in constant fear of the 
Indians. Martha, who was known as " Patty," told her grand- 
son, Mr. Martin, of the conditions which then prevailed, and 
how on one occasion, when on her way home after night-fall, 
she crawled into a hollow log lying across the path to escape 
a party of Indians who were passing. Their dog stopped at the 
log and growled, was spoken to by his master, and went on. Af- 
ter they had gone she came out and made her way home. They 
did not remain long at Batavia, but removed to Aurelius, New 







Martha Benton Lathrop 
1857 



tyis Ancestors 77 

York, where they lived until the death of Dr. Lathrop, Novem- moses 
ber 19, 1 821. Martha was then left alonewith a family, and her benton 
friends at Hartford being informed of her situation, her brother, U^L 
James Benton, went from Hartford,in the springof 1822, with 
an ox team and brought her and her family back to Hartford, 
the journey taking several weeks. After her return to Hartford, 
she, her mother, and her younger sister Betsey, lived together 
until the death of her mother in 1831, and then she and her 
sister lived together until the death of Betsey, June 24, 1 847. 
Martha then went to live with her daughter Prudence, who mar- 
ried at New Haven, September 10, 1850, James B. Martin of 
Hartford. Charles Towneley Martin, referred to above, was 
their son. Martha Benton Lathrop died at her daughter's, 
Mrs. Martin's, home November 30, 1878, aged 92 years, 
6 months and 9 days. She told her grandson, Mr. Martin, 
that during her long life, she never had a severe illness, and 
never had even a headache. She had an even temperament, 
and an amiable disposition, and was a devout Christian. At 
her death she was the oldest member of the Second Church 
at Hartford, to which she was admitted in 1824. The ac- 
companying picture of her is from a daguerreotype in the 
possession of Mr. Martin, taken in June, 1857. Her children 
were Frederick, Jr., Orlando, Martha Ann, James, Elizabeth, 
Elderkin, Elijah Andrew, Lucinda, and Prudence Benton. 

Betsey, born September 6, 1788, died June 24, 1847, 
unmarried. She was admitted to the Second Church in 1808. 
She was fifteen years old when her father died, and afterward 
lived with her mother and then with her mother and sister, 
Mrs. Martha Lathrop. She had a fine voice, and was the 
leading singer in Hartford during the early part of the cen- 
tury, singing in the Second Church as long as her health 
permitted. 

George, born April 23, 1791, married in 1812 at Milton, 
New York, Almena, daughter of Sylvanus and Mary (Palmer) 
Rugg of Milton, and died at Greenfield, New York, July 
26, 1848. 

Sally, born February 18, 1794, married April 6, 18 14, David 
North of Berlin, Connecticut, and died at Schoharie, New 
York, May 31, 1878. 




?s Samuel §>laDe Benton 

Moses, born March 2, 1797, died March 10, 1797. 

Andrew, born February 9, 1800, married first Henrietta 
Hotchkiss, of New Haven, who died in a few months. He 
then married Aurelia Wells of Hartford, by whom he had 
two children, Maria and Henry. She died and he married as 
his third wife Dolly Stowe of Charlton, Massachusetts. They 
had children, Andrew, Henry, and Susan. He married as his 
fourth wife Melissa Judd, a widow, and he died at Beloit, 
Wisconsin, January 12, 1865. 

He was first a printer and also a paper-maker, but in 1 83 1 
he was sent by the American Sunday-school Union to St. 
Louis to establish Sunday-schools. He studied theology at 
Lane Seminary, Walnut Hill, Ohio, became a clergyman, 
and was settled over the Presbyterian Church at Mt. Pleasant, 
Ohio, until he lost his health and was obliged to resign. He 
was then for several years associate editor of the Watchman 
of the Valley in Cincinnati, Ohio, and subsequently engaged 
in establishing educational institutions in Ohio. 

Ursula and Samuel and Samuel 2nd, children of Samuel 
and Prudence Benton, were buried in the orchard east of 
Samuel's house and back of it. Ursula's burial was the first 
in what is now called the "Old South Burying Ground" on 
Maple Avenue. This burying ground, containing about four 
acres, was purchased by the Town in December 15, 1800, of 
Thomas Seymour, for $400, and it contained the little orchard 
where Samuel's children were buried. H e and his wife and other 
members of his family were afterwards buried there. The last 
burial in this ground was that of his daughter Martha, De- 
cember 2, 1878, and she was the last survivor of his family. 



Jacob Benton, Jr. 

i 729-1 807 



Jacob Benton, Jr. 

1729-1807 



JACOB BENTON, Jr.,was born at Hartford, Connedi- 
cut, January 2, 1 72 8/9, and baptizedin the Second Church 
of Hartford on the 12th of the same month. He was the 
oldest son of Jacob Benton, Sr., and Elizabeth (Hinsdell) Ben- 
ton, and was about six years old when his father removed from 
Hartford to Harwinton. As his father was one of the most prom- 
inent citizens of the Town and senior deacon of the church, and 
chairman of the school committee, Jacob doubtless had all the 
advantages for education which the town school and the church 
then afforded. I have in my possession original letters writ- 
ten by him when he was past middle age, which show that 
he wrote an excellent business hand, and I think he must 
have been trained in business and taught to keep accounts 
and records. The first record found of him is that of his 
election as "Lister and Rate maker" in Harwinton, De- 
cember 3, 1 75 1. He was reelected to this office in 1752 and 
1753, showing that he held this important town office three 
years in succession before he was twenty-five years old. 
(Harwinton Town Votes,Yo\.\.) In 1754 he had cattle of his 
own, for he was then given an earmark for his cattle in Har- 
winton, the record being, " Feb. 1 9, 1 754. Jacob Benton Jr. Ear 
mark for his creatures is a happany cut upon the fore side 
of the off ear." December 3, 1 754, he was chosen surveyor of 
highways, and the Town at the same time voted that "Jacob 
Benton, Jr. shall take the care of the Meeting House and to 
repair the same as ocation shall Call & bring in his accoumpt 
to the Select men." He was chosen surveyor of highways 
in 1755 an d m December, 1757, he was chosen Tythingman. 
December 4, 1759, the Town passed the following votes: — 
"Voted that Jacob Benton, Junior shall Be the Quorester 
to tune the Salms in this sosiaty." "Voted that Amos Benton 
shall tune the same in Jacob Bentons absence." In December, 
1765, the Town voted that " L \ Jacob Benton be Lister & Rate 



82 



Samuel S>IaDe Benton 



JACOB 

BENTON, 

JUNIOR 

1729 



maker." He does not appear by the record to have held any 
other town offices in Harwinton until 1775, wnen at a town 
meeting held September 19, it was voted "that Jacob Benton 
and Medad Hall be committee men for schooling for the year 
ensuing." The record also shows that he took the oath of 
fidelity in Harwinton April 13, 1778. 

This oath was required by the ads of May and Odober, 
1777, which required the person who took it to declare that 
he would faithfully maintain the government established in 
the State of Connecticut by the people, and that he " believed 
in his conscience that the King of Great Britain neither had 
nor of right ought to have any authority in or over the State." 
And the ad provided that " no person in this state shall ex- 
ercise any office, civil or military, or vote in any town, so- 
ciety, or other public meeting appointed by law, or plead in 
any court (except in his own case) until he has taken the 
oath of fidelity to the State." Also that no person should be 
an executor or administrator of any estate, or a guardian to 
any minor until he had taken the oath. (Hinman's Connecti- 
cut in War of American Revolution, pp. 221, 228.) 

When his father's will was made, in June, 1760, Jacob 
was thirty-one years old, and the will shows that he had a 
son named Phineas and a daughter Elizabeth, and that he 
was then living in his own house at Harwinton. This house, 
built by him and still standing, is the residence of William 
S. Jones, and is called the "Winship Place." The accom- 
panying is a pidure of it as it now appears. The Town rec- 
ords of Harwinton do not show his marriage or the birth 
of any of his children, and the church records of Harwin- 
ton prior to 1790 are lost. But original letters from him and 
from his wife in my possession written from Rockingham, 
Vermont, between 1783 and 1805, show that his wife's name 
was Hannah, and leave little doubt that her maiden name 
was Slade. 

These letters and family records show that Jacob and 
Hannah Benton had eight children : Phineas and Elizabeth, 
named in their grandfather's will, and Mabel, Jacob, Rey- 
nold, Chauncey, Mary, and Samuel Slade. Phineas and Eliza- 
beth were both born before June, 1760, and doubtless at 




Si O 
J5 vo 



=q 



A 






$ts Ancestor* s 3 

Harwinton. The inscription on the tombstone of Elizabeth jacob 
in the Harwinton cemetery states that she died August 23, benton, 
1820, aged 59 years, which would make the date of her birth J UNI0R 
1 76 1. But this is obviously not exact, for she was alive at — ,-L 
the time of her grandfather's will in June, 1760, which would 
make her over sixty years of age when she died in 1820. It 
is not probable that she was born before Phineas, as in that 
case her age as stated on the tombstone would be incorrect 
by several years. I think she was probably born in 1759, 
and that Phineas was born in 1757 or 1758. The letters to 
which I have referred make no mention of Phineas but in- 
dicate clearly that Elizabeth was the oldest child then liv- 
ing. . 

The Town records of Alstead, New Hampshire, show 
that Mabel was married there December 11, 1783. I think 
it may be fairly assumed that she was then about twenty- 
two years old, and was born in 1761, or about two years 
after the birth of Elizabeth. The inscription put upon the 
tombstone of Jacob in the cemetery at St. Johnsbury, Ver- 
mont, by his brother, Samuel Slade, states that he died Sep- 
tember 7, 1828, aged 62, which shows his birth to have been 
in 1766. 

The records of the Second Church at Hartford and an 
original letter in my possession from his brother Jacob, show 
that Reynold died March 26, 181 1, aged 43, which would 
make his birth to have been in 1768, or two years after his 
brother Jacob's birth. The record in a family Bible now 
owned by Mrs. Fannie Smith of Hartford, a great-grand- 
daughter of Chauncey, shows that he was born August 1, 
1770, and the record in the family Bible of Samuel Kings- 
bury, now in my possession, states that his wife, Mary Ben- 
ton, was born at Harwinton, Connecticut, September 18, 
1772, while the record in the family Bible of Samuel Slade 
Benton shows that he was born at Harwinton, Connecticut, 
April 27, 1777. These recorded dates are undoubtedly cor- 
rect, and I believe the others are substantially accurate. I have 
no doubt that all the children of Jacob and Hannah Benton 
were born in Harwinton, Connecticut, and that he lived there 
until about 1782. 



8 4 



Samuel S>lafce Benton 



1729 



jacob The Town records of Harwinton, the Connecticut Colony 

benton, records, the Probate records, and family records show that 
Jacob Benton was in Harwinton at the following dates: Feb- 
ruary 19, 1754, when he received an earmark for his cattle; 
in 1754 and in 1755, when he was surveyor of highways; in 
1757, when he wasTythingman; in 1759, when he was "Quo- 
rester"; June 11, 1760, when his father's will was made; No- 
vember 30, 1760, when his father's will was proved; May, 
1 76 1, when he was made a lieutenant, the record being, 
"This Assembly do establish Mr. Jacob Benton to be Lieu- 
tenant of the east company or train band in the town of Har- 
winton in the first regiment in this Colony" (Pub. Rec. Conn., 
Vol. V. p. 552); January, 1763, when an execution appears 
to have been issued against him as an executor of his father's 
will; in 1765, when he was lister; October 24, 1766, the date 
of the record of another earmark for his cattle, the record 
being, "24 Oct 1766 Jacob Benton's ear mark is a cross on 
the Right ear and on the under side of same across the ear," 
(in another handwriting is added) " this mark put to Nath u 
Moody"; September 18, 1772, birth of his daughter Mary 
in Harwinton; January and May, 1774, when he was ad- 
judged insolvent by the General Court on his own petition 
(Pub. Rec. Conn., Vol. XIV. pp. 230, 276); in 1775, when he 
was one of the school committee; April 27, 1777, birth of 
his son, Samuel Slade, in Harwinton; and April 13, 1778, 
when he took the oath of fidelity in Harwinton. 

The only thing to indicate that Jacob was not in Harwin- 
ton all this time is that in the list of unclaimed letters of 
January 25, 1766, published in the Connecticut Courant, 
February 3, 1766, the names of Jacob Benton and of his 
brother Amos of Harwinton appear, and in the same list 
of December 14, 1767, letters appear addressed to "Jacob 
Benton & Co. of Harwinton." But whether this is accurate, 
and whether Jacob then lived in Harwinton, and the letters 
were simply unclaimed, or whether he was then living tem- 
porarily elsewhere it is impossible to tell. That he and his 
wife were members of the church in Harwinton appears 
from the records of the Congregational Church in Rocking- 
ham, Vermont, now in the possession of Mrs. W. H. H. 



$ts ancestors s 5 

Putnam of Springfield, Vermont, which show that Septem- jacob 
ber 10, 1786, his wife was admitted to that church by letter benton, 
from the church in Harwinton, and that September 4, 1791, ^~2° R 
he was admitted to that church by letter from the church ^—v-^ 
in Harwinton. The church records of Harwinton prior to 
1790 being lost, it is impossible to tell when they became 
members there. I believe, however, that they were members 
at the time of their marriage or soon after it, and that all 
their children were baptized in the Harwinton Church. 

Jacob and his brothers Moses and Barnabas were execu- 
tors of his father's will, and they evidently each received a 
fair estate from their father. Jacob and his brother Amos 
went into business as "Jacob Benton & Co." The tradition 
is that they speculated and failed and lost their property, 
and the records confirm this. April 25, 1767, Amos Benton 
conveyed to John Smith, merchant, of New York City, land 
received from his father by will, and May 11, 1768, Jacob 
and Amos conveyed to John Smith, merchant, of New York 
City, land received by will from their father. I am inclined to 
think that Jacob, Sr., kept a country store in Harwinton, and 
that after his death his sons Jacob and Amos carried on the 
business unsuccessfully, and failed and lost their property 
sometime before 1774, in which year Jacob applied for and 
received a special act of insolvency from the Assembly. He 
was then nearly fifty years of age, and soon sought a new 
home for himself and family. The course of immigration 
from Connecticut was then up the river to New Hampshire 
and Vermont. John Slade, who I think was the brother of 
Hannah, Jacob's wife, had settled in Alstead, New Hamp- 
shire, then a frontier town, and Jacob and Hannah Benton 
went there, in 1782. He had with him his wife and all his 
children then living except Elizabeth, who was then mar- 
ried to Silas Gridley of Harwinton, and Chauncey, who was 
for some reason in Hartford. Mabel, doubtless the oldest 
except Elizabeth, was then about twenty or twenty-one years 
old, Jacob, the oldest son, sixteen or seventeen, Reynold about 
fourteen, Mary ten or eleven, and Samuel Slade five or six years 
old. Jacob Benton was not destitute, for he appears to have 
had property and to have been taxed in Alstead, but follow- 



1729 



86 Samuel SlaDe Benton 

jacob ing what was then quite a general custom in New Hampshire 
benton, and Vermont, to prevent new-comers from obtaining set- 
J U ^° R tlement so that if they became destitute the town would be- 
come chargeable for their support, the selectmen of Alstead 
caused Jacob Benton and his wife and children to be duly 
"warned to depart." The record of this is as follows: — 

State of New Hampshire, Cheshire ss. 

To Saml. Kidder one of the Constables of Alstead, 

Greeting 

IN the name of the Government & people of said state you 
are hereby Required forthwith to warn Jacob Benton & 
Hannah his wife, Mabel, Jacob, Reynold, Mary & Samuel 
Benton, their children to Depart out of this Town Immedi- 
ately & no longer make it the place of their Residence under 
the pains that will follow. Hereof fail not & make Return 
of this warrant with your doings thereon as soon as may be 
Given under our hands & seal of office this 26th March 

1783. 

Amos Shepard ) 

Timo. Fletcher V Seleclmen. 

Simon Brooks Jr. J 

April 7,1783. 

Serv d this warrant by reading the same in the hearing of s d 

persons. 

Saml Kidder 

Const. 

(Alstead Records, Vol. A, p. 154.) 

As the law then was, such a warning notice, to be effective, 
must be given within one year after the person warned came 
into the town. (Ails and Laws Province N. H. y 1 696-1 725, 
p. 137.) This notice therefore shows that Jacob Benton and 
his wife and children went to Alstead as late at least as March, 
1782, or about five years after the latest date at which there 
is any positive evidence of his being in Harwinton. He may 
perhaps have been in Hartford a portion of this time and 
have gone from there to Alstead, but there is no evidence 
of it. He evidently remained in Alstead two or three years, 
as his daughter Mabel married there December 11, 1783, 



i^fs ancestors s 7 

and is stated in the record to have been "of Alstead," but the jacob 
admission of his wife to the Rockingham Church in Sep- benton, 
tember, 1786, shows that he probably went to Rockingham J UNI0R 
before that time, and an original letter from him which I w^-3 
have, written March 6, 1787, shows that he was then living 
there. He appears, however, to have been taxed in Alstead 
as late as 1787, as the Town records show that his "state 
tax of thirty one shillings certificates and five shillings school 
tax in John Slades hands" were abated March 11, 1788. It 
is likely that he removed from Alstead to Rockingham very 
early in 1787 and that his tax of that year in Alstead was 
abated as improperly assessed. Rockingham included Bel- 
lows Falls and was the head of navigation by boats from 
Connecticut, and I think Jacob Benton traded there in a 
small way for some time. He lived on a small place on the 
river road which was too small for a farm, and his letters to 
his son Reynold and others in Connecticut show that salt 
and other articles of merchandise were sent to him by boat, 
and that he sent back "shooks of staves" and other articles 
then produced in that part of Vermont and New Hampshire. 
He was a trader in Harwinton, and doubtless continued to 
trade in Rockingham until he was old and infirm, when he 
was supported by his son Jacob. His wife died at Rocking- 
ham July 21, 1805, and is doubtless buried in the church- 
yard of the old Congregational Church, though there is no 
record of it and no stone or other memorial to be found which 
shows it. After her death he was in feeble health, but he re- 
mained at Rockingham until the fall of 1 806, when he went 
to his daughter Mary Kingsbury's home in Alstead, where 
he died January 13, 1807, at tne a g e °f seventy-eight. He 
was probably buried by the side of his wife at Rockingham, 
but it is impossible to tell definitely, as no record of it ex- 
ists, and no gravestone can be found. 

The dates of the births and deaths of his children as 
nearly as they can be now fixed are as follows: Phineas, born 
at Harwinton, probably in 1757 or 1758 (he died, probably 
in childhood, at Harwinton); Elizabeth, born at Harwinton 
about 1759, died at Harwinton, August 23, 1820; Mabel, 
born about 1761, died at some time after 1830; Jacob, born 



Samuel SlaUe Benton 



jacob at Harwinton, 1766, died at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, Sep- 
benton, tember 7, 1828; Reynold, born at Harwinton about 1768, 
junior ^ied at Hartford, Connecticut, March 26, 181 1; Chauncey, 
vj^!2 born at Harwinton, August 1, 1770, died at Hartford, Con- 
necticut, August 17, 1833; Mary, born at Harwinton, Sep- 
tember 18, 1772, died at Amherst, Massachusetts, June 19, 
1 841; Samuel Slade, born at Harwinton, April 27, 1777, 
died at Newbury, Vermont, December 15, 1857. 

Jacob Benton and his wife were both earnest Christians, 
and without doubt all their children were baptized in the 
Congregational Church. It was to him that his father gave 
by will his "Great Bible," and he evidently instructed his 
children therein, for they all appear to have been familiar 
with the Scriptures and believers in the Congregational church. 
The following letters, the originals of which I have, show 
something of the character of Jacob and Hannah Benton, 
and should be of interest to their descendants: — 

Jacob— Hannah Benton to Silas Gridley. 

DEAR Son and Daughter: After our regards to you 
and your children would inform you that we are all 
as well as common and Mabel and her children. We received 
your letter in a few days after it was writ. Samuel was taken 
in December unwell and a pain settled in the side of his neck, 
and after a while it began to swell and very painful for a fort- 
night or more and then the Doctor opened it and then he was 
some better, but it was more than a month before he was fit to 
go to school. 

But Mabel sold her horse a few days before she received 
your letter and was gone to keep house this winter for a man 
and it is so difficult to hire a horse for so long a journey, and 
it has got so late in the winter that it will not be safe to go with 
the sleigh and my mare is so heavy with foal that she will not 
do to ride. I intended to come and see you this winter but I do 
not see as I can at present. I sent Chauncey a letter when I sent 
you one, and another since, but have had none from him. We 
heard last week by a traveller that William Slade was gone to 
Woodbury or New Milford to be married. Mabel came home 
last Saturday to see us and is here now. We should be glad you 



$ts Ancestors s 9 

would send us a letter and about Brother Amos (Several lines jacob 

missing here ) t u v benton, 

s y Jacob Hannah Benton. junior 

Rockingham, February 9th, 1789. i7 2 9 

In handwriting of Jacob Benton. 

Directed to Mr. Silas Gridley in Harwinton. 

Jacob Hannah Benton to Silas and Elizabeth Gridley: 

SILAS and Elizabeth: After our dearest regards to you 
and Reynold & your children would inform you that we 
are all as well as common, hoping this will find you so. But 
should be very glad to hear that it is so. We have never heard 
from you since your mother came from you. We have sent two 
or three letters but no answer. We take it very hard that Rey- 
nold nor you have not sent us a letter this Summer. It is un- 
certain whether our letters ever come to you or not, but you 
can pretty certainly send us a letter if you would leave it at 
Mr. Calder's at Hartford Ferry. We have sent there several 
times by the boatmen but they can find no letter for us. We 
want to know what Reynold is about. The neighbours keep in- 
quiring whether we have heard from him till we are ashamed. 
We hope some of you will come and see us this fall and we 
want to have you write whether you intend to come or not. 
I intend to come and see you next winter if I can. We expect 
Mary will have another child in a month or two. We want to 
hear from your Aunt Dochester. Your Aunt Slade remains 
in a very weak and low state not like to live long. The rest 
of them are as well as common. Mabel was unwell a spell in 
the spring, but has got some better. We have not heard very 
lately from Chauncey. Jacob lives yet with Conol Bellows at 
the Yallow House. We see him very often. We shall expect 
that Reynold will come and see us soon as his business will 
allow of it if you cannot come. We have sent and waited so 
long to hear from you that we are discouraged of sending by 
private persons and send this by post. Shall not enlarge at this 
time, but remain 

Your ever mindful parents, 

Jacob Hannah Benton. 
Rockingham July 29th, 1791 



9° 



Samuel £>iaDe Benton 



JACOB 

BENTON, 

JUNIOR 

1729 



SILAS and Elizabeth : After our sincerest regards to you 
and your children your father and mother, brothers and 
sisters, Lieutenant Joseph Cook and his wife, Mrs. Lankton 
and all inquiring friends, would inform that we are as well as 
common, sometimes troubled with rheumatism. Pains and in- 
firmities of old age creep upon us. We have had some talk of 
going to see you this winter but have flung it by at present, 
but I intend if I am alive and well enough to go and see you 
before another winter. We received a letter from Tine Bradley 
the Summer past and they wrote that their daughter lay at the 
point of death and we haven't heard anything since. We want 
to hear from them and John. 

We want to hear whether Sergeant (Missing) is alive and 
whether there is any of our acquaintance dead. Shall not en- 
large, but ever remain, 

Your mindfull parents 

Jacob Hannah Benton. 
Rockingham January the qth, 1799 



SILAS and Elizabeth: After our Sincerest Respects to 
you and your children youer Father and Mother and 
all inquiring friends would inform you that we are yet alive 
but are troubled with the infirmities of old age and lameness 
and other difficulties, and are left pretty much alone this Sum- 
mer. Jacob and Samuel went up the River about 90 miles 
and bought each of them farms and Jacob came home in 
July but stayed but a day or two. Samuel came home last 
week and stayed but one night Mr. Gilbird came here last 
Saturday and told us that you were all well and neighbours 
in general — Wooster and Kingsberry and the three fami- 
lies were all well a few days ago Mable had a Daughter born 
about six weeks past. Mr. Gilbird informed us that there 
has been a great stir of religion in town of late and many 
added to the Church and hopefully to the Lord of such as 
shall be saved, which we rejoiced to hear of, and praying and 
hoping that you and all others will be careful to maintain 
good works and stand firm in the faith to the end. I laid out 
to go and see you this month but I cannot go till Jacob or 



$ts 2lnce0torg 91 

Samuel come home so I cannot set any time at present but jacob 
intend to go as soon as I can. benton, 

I shall not inlarge at present but remain your mindfull Junior 
Parent till Death. Praying and hoping that we and you all —,-L 
may so live here in the world that whether we have an op- 
portunity of seeing the faces of one another in this world 
we may all meet in heaven, which may God of his infinite 

mercv grant through Christ T u r> _ 

7 & => Jacob Hannah Benton. 

Rockingham OElober the 5 1801. 

The following letter to Elizabeth Gridley in 1 803 is prob- 
ably the last letter ever written by Hannah Benton. 

Rockingham^ July 6th. 

DEAR Child. I take this opportunity to send my kind 
love to you all, and I hope these few lines will find 
you enjoying good health. I take this opportunity to write 
to you to inform you that I am exceeding unwell ... to the 
dropsy consumption, and I am losing my flesh very fast 
and seemingly I am drawing quite fast by the borders of 
the grave. I want to have you come and see me if you 
can make it convenient and I wish you not to fail coming 
for I think you will never have an other opportunity of 
coming to see me I wish you not to put it any longer it 
comes a little cooler weather I want to have your husband 
come with you, but if he can't make it convenient I wish to 
have your oldest son come with you I must insist on your 
coming to see me once more. Your Father is well as com- 
mon and your sisters and their familys Your sister Mary 
has lost her youngest son this spring Your brother Jacob 
and Samuel live an hundred miles up the river We heard 
from them last May and they were then well If you can 
make it convenient to come I want to have you come in a 
carriage for that will not weary you so much as riding a 
horse back and they say that it is a very good carriage road. 
I have no more to write but remain 

Your ever mindful parent till death 

Hannah Benton. 
Directed on the outside to Mr. Silas Gridley , Harwinton. 
No date. Evidently not sent by post. 



9 2 



Samuel £>IaDe Benton 



jacob The following is probably the last letter written by Jacob 

benton, Benton. 

junior -jp EYNOLD and Chauncey: After due regards would 
J.JL XV Inform you that your Mother grew some weaker along 
for this month past and seemed to be better on some ac- 
count but was taken the Monday before last with a purging 
and we thought she was a dying for some time, but recov- 
ered again, and sometimes better and then worse, and her 
reason failed with her strength and she lived until Sabbath 
day the 21st and died about 3 o'clock afternoon. She had 
the jaunders and dropsy and no medicine seemed to do any 
good, and she was in great distress, seemed to be dying for 
1 days. Mabel and Mary were here with her for a week be- 
fore she died. She didn't have watchers but about nine days 
and failed very fast. I have a housekeeper that lives with 
me at present and will stay a spell longer. My pen and ink 
so poor shall not Inlarge but remain 

Your lonesome Parent, Jacob Benton. 

Rockingham, July i^th y 1805. 

After you have read the letter I wish you would wrap a 
paper around this and send it to Harwinton. 

The following is a facsimile of the signature of Jacob Ben- 
ton, written when he was seventy-six. 



f*u>/<%. 




The following letter, which I have from his son Jacob to 
Silas Gridley and Elizabeth Gridley, states the circumstances 
of the death of Jacob Benton. 

Alstead, January 28, 1807. 

DEAR Brother and Sister: I have to acknowledge the 
receipt of a letter from Sister and felt sensibly touched 
with it. Feeling for the misfortune of your family and sin- 
cerely hope ere this that health may be enjoyed by you all. 



tyis ancestors 93 

Although I have not written before it has not proceeded jacob 
from an indifference toward you, but nothing but ordinary benton, 
occurrences has happened with me until of late. Near the J UNI0R 

. • I 72Q 

last of December I received a letter from Sister Kingsbury J^t 
that Father was at their house lame and sick, but it being 
inconvenient for me to go immediately did not arrive till 
the 1 8th Jny, but he had died the Tuesday preceding, 13th, 
much sooner than had been previously expected. He lived 
two months or more at Kingsbury's last Winter, but would 
go back to Rockingham in the Spring where he lived in a 
very ill condition until November when Mr. Webb brought 
him to Alstead. He was confined to the room and his bed 
ever after. His disorder proved to be the dropsy and asthma. 
Thev had medical assistance but it gave him but temporary 
relief. He retained his rational faculties to the last. Mr. Kings- 
bury's family are passably well at present. They had a child 
last Spring that died. Candese has had Fits and much more 
misfortune, and it is with painful anxiety that I reflect on his 
being much involved in debt. Worcester familv are well. One 
child four months old well when I left there. Circumstances 
favorable I stay at Waterford yet, but have not purchased 
anywhere. Any communication from you would be gladly re- 
ceived. My best wishes for your prosperity, and am with sin- 
cerity 

Yours &c. 

Jacob Benton. 



$ts ZLmtztoxs 95 

They had also one child born at Lenox, Massachusetts — jacob 

Phineas 2nd, born September 12, 1777. benton, 

Jerusha (Bull) Benton, wife of Amos Benton, died June J UNI0R 
3, 1793, and he died February 20, 1797, both I think at ^L^ 
Lenox, Massachusetts. 

Amos, son of Amos and Elizabeth (White) Benton, born 
March 27, 1757, left two sons, Amos and Erastus. After his 
death they sold their little homestead in Lenox, Massachu- 
setts, and moved into the western part of New York, as I 
am informed. I do not know whom Erastus married, or any- 
thing of his family, except that he is said to have had two 
sons. I do not know whom Amos married, but I am told that 
he had a family of thirteen children, all twins but one. He 
is said to have been an elder in the Reformed Methodist 
Church. 

Nathaniel White married and had sons, who, I am in- 
formed, went to Michigan. 

Rimmon is said to have settled in Shoreham, Vermont, 
and to have had one son, Joseph Benton, who settled in 
Maine and had a family often children. 

Abigail, daughter of Amos and Jerusha (Bull) Benton, 
married Barnabas Ames at Harwinton, as I am informed. 

Roger married and had sons, who, I am informed, now 
live in Newark, New Jersey. 

Barnabas, son of Jacob Benton, Sr., and Elizabeth (Hins- 
dell) Benton, born at Hartford, January 3, 1734/5, and the 
youngest brother of Jacob Benton, Jr., married Martha Gris- 
wold February 15, 1758. They had ten children, all born in 
Harwinton: — 

Martha, born February 27, 1759. 

Barnabas, bornNovember 24, 1 7 60 ; died September 2,1763. 

Lorene, born June 22, 1762. 

Barnabas 2nd, born April 17, 1764; died May 3, 1764. 

Barnabas 3rd, born March 8, 1765. 

Seth, born May 20, 1767. 

William, born April 22, 1769. 

Lydia, born May 4, 1771. 

Abigail, born April 19, 1774; died August 8, 1857. 

Cynthia, born July 18, 1776. 



9 6 



Samuel Slade Benton 



jacob Martha, the oldest child of Barnabas, is said to have mar- 

benton, ried Joseph Cooley, March 14, 1779. 



JUNIOR 

1729 



Lorene married Ashbel Porter. 

William, son of Barnabas, married Lois Kellogg, March 
17, 1793, and they had four children born at Harwinton: — 

Willis, born January 8, 1794. 

Lois, born March 9, 1796. 

William Pomeroy, born July 7, 1798. 

Maria, born September 29, 1800. 

Abigail, daughter of Barnabas, married Job Alfred at Har- 
winton, October 9, 1793, and died at Harwinton, August 8, 

l8 57- ' • r • 

Of the other children of Barnabas I have no information. 

I believe the above with regard to Amos and Barnabas, 
brothers of Jacob Benton, Jr., and their families to be sub- 
stantially accurate, but I have not been able with the time at 
my command to investigate sufficiently to be certain about it, 
and print it only as the best information I have. 

Elizabeth, youngest daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth 
(Hinsdell) Benton, born at Harwinton, June 17, 1738, is 
not mentioned in her father's will, made December 1 1, 1760, 
and I have no information concerning her. I think she prob- 
ably died in childhood. 



Children of Jacob Benton, Jr. 



THE children of Jacob Benton, Jr., were all doubtless 
born at Harwinton, Connecticut, most, if not all, of 
them, I have no doubt, in the house built by him 
and now standing. (Shown on page 82, ante.) 

Phineas was probably born in 1757 or 1758, and though 
living at the date of his grandfather's will in 1760, doubtless 
died in childhood. 

Sketches of the other children of Jacob Benton, Jr., 
namely: — 

Elizabeth, born probably in 1759, 

Mabel, born about 1761, 

Jacob, born in 1766, 

Reynold, born probably in 1768, 

Chauncey, born August 1, 1770, 

Mary, born September 18, 1772, 

Samuel Slade, born April 27, 1777, 
will be found on the pages which follow. 

The information for these sketches, with the exception of 
that of Samuel Slade, my grandfather, has been very difficult 
to obtain, and I am not certain of the accuracy of all the 
names and dates given. But I think the sketches are sub- 
stantially accurate and that they give as much information as 
can now be had of the children of Jacob Benton, Jr. The 
descendants of Elizabeth, Mabel, Reynold, Chauncey, and 
Mary are widely scattered, and it has not been possible within 
the time at my command to obtain more knowledge of them 
than I have above given. 



Elizabeth Benton 

1759-1820 



Elizabeth Benton 

1759-1820 



ELIZABETH was born probably as early as 1759. She 
married Silas Gridley at Harwinton, December 2, 
1779. She died at Harwinton, August 23, 1820. The 
inscription on her tombstone is "In memory of Mrs. Eliza- 
beth Gridley, Wife of Mr. Silas Gridley, who died August 23, 
1820, Aged 59 years." Silas Gridley died at Harwinton, Feb- 
ruary 28, 1839, at the age of eighty-one. They had four chil- 
dren, all born at Harwinton: — 

Silas, born December 28, 1780, married Huldah Colt of 
Harwinton. They afterwards removed to Bristol, Connecti- 
cut, where they both died and are buried. He died at about 
sixty-eight years of age and she survived him for many years. 

Salmon, born July, 1783, married first Cynthia Bull of 
Harwinton. She died and is buried in Harwinton. He then 
removed from Harwinton to Burlington, Connecticut, where 
he married his second wife, Mary Pettibone, a widow, of Bur- 
lington. They afterwards removed to "Unionville" in Farm- 
ington, Connecticut, where she died. She was buried in Bur- 
lington. He died at Unionville, April 28, 1807, but was 
buried in Harwinton by the side of his first wife. 

Joel, born February 1, 1785, married first Anne Sanford, 
who died about 1840 at Harwinton. He then married Clara 
Cosslett of Southington, Connecticut. He died May 23, 
1863, at Harwinton, and was there buried. She survived 
him and died at Harwinton at the house of her stepson, 
George Gridley, now of Waterbury, Connecticut. She is 
buried in Harwinton. 

Lyman, born June 1, 1800, married Lois Alfred, May 
1, 1827, and died at Harwinton, May 30, 1877. 

Elizabeth (Benton) Gridley was evidently much beloved 
by all her brothers and sisters, and is said to have been much 
respected by every one who knew her. Her daughter-in-law, 
Mrs. Lyman Gridley, says that she was a large woman, very 



io2 Samuel £>laDe Benton 



BENTON 
1759 



eliza- capable and helpful, and much respected in the town. I have 
beth no doubt she and her husband were members of the Har- 
winton Congregational Church, though this cannot be abso- 
lutely stated, as the church records of the time when they 
would have been admitted as members are now lost. 

Silas Gridley was in the Revolutionary army and, as I am 
informed by his grandson, George Gridley, drew a small pen- 
sion for many years. 

The widow of Lyman Gridley is still living in Harwinton, 
at the age of ninety-eight years, in good health with unim- 
paired faculties, on the farm where Silas and Elizabeth (Ben- 
ton) Gridley lived. 



Mabel Benton 

1761— 1829 (?) 



Mabel Benton 

i76i-i829(?) 



MABEL was born probably in 1761, and was with 
her father's family in Alstead, New Hampshire, 
in 1783. The town records of Alstead show that 
"The Intention of marriage between Jon! Watts & Mable 
Benton" was entered with the town clerk July 1, 1783, and 
that "The Bands of Matrimony between Jonathan Watts 
and Mable Benton Both of Alstead was solemnised Decem- 
ber 11, 1783, Mr. Jacob Mann Pastor." I find no record of 
the births of her children by this marriage, but letters from 
her father and mother in my possession show that she had 
a daughter, Hannah, born in Alstead probably in 1785, and a 
son, David, born in Alstead January 5, 1786. 

Jonathan Watts died at Alstead in 1788, and was buried 
there. June 3, 1789, Mabel (Benton) Watts married John 
Worcester of Alstead. From April, 1788, to June, 1791, there 
was no settled pastor of the Alstead Church and this mar- 
riage was therefore solemnized by a justice of the peace. The 
record is "Alstead, June 3, 1789. The Bands of Matrimony 
solemnised between John Worcester and Mabel Watts both 
of Alstead per Nath eI S. Prentice justice peace." I find no rec- 
ord of the births of children by this marriage, but old family 
letters show that there were four sons, — John, Ira, Arad, 
and Ralph, and two daughters, Ann and Mary S., usually 
called "Sally." They were all born in Alstead and I think 
their births were in the above order. 

John Worcester died at Alstead, August 1, 1809, an d his 
widow Mabel (Benton) Worcester continued to live there 
until as late as June, 1827. She appears to have had a good 
farm, well stocked, in Alstead and to have been in comfort- 
able circumstances there for many years. Soon after 1827 she 
sold what remained of her land in Alstead and went to 
St. Johnsbury, Vermont, doubtless to live with her brother 
Jacob, with whom she was living when he died, in Septem- 



io6 Samuel g>iafce Benton 

mabel ber, 1828. She was living in St. Johnsbury, probably with one 
benton f her married daughters, in May, 183 1, when she conveyed 
vI^_L ber interest as heir of her brother Jacob to her brother Sam- 
uel Slade. She seems to have been a very strong, capable 
woman, and to have done much for her children while she 
had the means, but by aiding her son, Arad, to raise money, 
and in other ways she became obliged to sell her farm in 
Alstead, and was left in her old age with very little property. 
She appears to have "attended meeting" in Alstead, and I 
have no doubt she was a member of the First Congrega- 
tional Church organized there in 1778, the records of which 
prior to 1791 are lost. I have been unable as yet to ascer- 
tain definitely when and where she died, but have no doubt 
she died at St. Johnsbury, Vermont, not long after the death 
of her brother Jacob in September, 1828. 

Her oldest child, Hannah^ Watts, married a Sawyer at Al- 
stead, probably in 1 807, and died in child-birth May 7, 1 808, 
leaving a daughter to the care of her mother. This daughter 
was living with her grandmother, Mabel Worcester, at Al- 
stead in December, 18 17. 

David Watts, the oldest son, married Beulah Johnson at 
Alstead. She was born November 27, 1791, probably at Al- 
stead, and died at Waterbury, Vermont, August 6, 1852. 
David Watts went from Alstead to Middlesex, Vermont, 
where he was living in December, 18 17. He afterwards re- 
moved to Waterbury, Vermont, and acled for his mother in 
the settlement of her brother Jacob's estate in 1 830. He died 
at Waterbury, Vermont, August 31, 1858. He and his wife 
were both buried at Waterbury Centre, Vermont. They had 
five children: — 

Alfred, born January 29, 1 8 1 2 ; died December 18, 1 873. 

Sylvester, born August 11, 18 16; died March 13, 18 19. 

Loren D., born March 17, 1821; died June 23, 1895. 

Oscar F., born March 19, 1825. 

Zenas, born April 2, 1828; died in September, 1887. 

Oscar F. Watts, above named, married Leucena K. Pike, 
April 3, 1849, and they had five children: — 

David O., born February 14, 1851. 

Rufus A., born December 8, 1854. 



$ts Ancestors io 7 

Beulah J. y born November 10, 1858. mabel 

Loren R. y born May 5, 1863. benton 

Aaron T., born July 19, 1865. U^L 

I do not know whether Alfred, Loren, and Zenas Watts, 
children of David Watts and grandchildren of Mabel (Ben- 
ton) Watts, were all married, but I am informed that none of 
them had children who lived beyond childhood. 

Oscar F. Watts, I am told, is now living in Vermont. The 
above information as to the marriage and descendants of David 
Watts is given me by Rufus A. Watts, a grandson of David, 
and a great-grandson of Mabel (Benton) Watts, now living at 
Waterbury Centre, Vermont. 

John and Arad Worcester were living with their mother, 
Mabel (Benton) Worcester, on her farm in Alstead in 181 1, 
and her son Ralph Worcester lived there with her in 1 8 1 7, as 
appears by letters of that period. Beyond this fad: I have no 
information as to John, but these letters also show that Arad 
was married and living in Alstead in May, 18 17, about to 
remove to Middlesex, Vermont, and that Ralph was married 
and living in Waterbury, Vermont, in 1 827, at which time Ira 
Worcester was living in Alstead. Ann Worcester married a 
Chickering. Mary S., known as Sally, also married, but I do 
not know whom. In 1827 they were both living at St. Johns- 
bury, Vermont, as I am informed. 



Jacob Benton 

1766-1828 



Jacob Benton 

1766-1828 



JACOB BENTON, the oldest son of Jacob Benton, Jr., 
who grew to manhood, was born at Harwinton, Con- 
necticut, in the year 1766. There is no official or family 
record yet found of the date of his birth, but he died at St. 
Johnsbury, Vermont, September 7, 1828, and the inscription 
put upon his tombstone by his brother Samuel Slade states 
that he was then sixty-two years of age, which shows that he 
was born in 1766. 

March 26, 1783, when he was sixteen or seventeen years 
old, he was with his father and mother in Alstead, New Hamp- 
shire, and was included in the "warning out" notice to them 
and their family. He doubtless came from Connecticut with 
his father and mother within the year before that date. I think 
he went with his father to Rockingham, Vermont, the town 
opposite Walpole, and worked as a farm laborer, at first, but 
soon after was employed by Colonel John Bellows in the Bel- 
lows Tavern, known as the " Yellow House," at Walpole, 
New Hampshire. He was certainly employed there in 1790, 
and probably a few years earlier. 

The town records of Rockingham, Vermont, show that he 
was chosen a " Tithanman"[Tythingman], March 28, 179 1. 
The duty of a Tythingman was to preserve order in the 
meeting-house, for which purpose he usually carried a long 
rod, and to enforce the "Act for the Due Observation of the 
Sabbath." This act provided among other things that "Every 
person who shall go from his or her place of abode on the 
first day of the week, or Lord's day, unless to and from the 
public worship of God, or on some work or business of ne- 
cessity or mercy, shall pay a fine not exceeding sixteen shil- 
lings ; and whatever person or persons shall keep or stay at 
the outside of the meeting-house during the time of public 
worship (there being sufficient room in the house) or unnec- 
essarily withdraw themselves from the public worship, go with- 



I \1 



Samuel £>laDe Benton 



jacob out-doors, or profane the time by playing or profanely talking, 
benton shall pay a fine not exceeding six shillings."* 
l J^_, He was an industrious and thrifty young man, and evi- 

dently saved his earnings, for October 8, 1792, when he was 
twenty-six years old, he purchased of Benjamin Bellows and 
John Bellows, for twelve pounds, four acres of land on the 
Connecticut River in Rockingham, and is described in the 
deed as of Walpole, and as a "husbandman." This deed was 
acknowledged in Walpole, New Hampshire, October 28, 
1794, a little over two years after its date, and was not re- 
corded until September 24, 1 805. I think he bought this land 
as a home for his aged father and mother. 

December 10, he purchased one hundred and forty acres 
of wild land in Walpole for two hundred and ten pounds, 
of Samuel Grant and Levi Bellows, and on the same day 
he sold sixty acres of this land to John Chandler of Al- 
stead, New Hampshire, for ninety pounds. September 26, 
1800, he sold the remaining eighty acres of this land to 
James Chandler of Alstead for four hundred and eighty dol- 
lars. In the deed he describes himself as Jacob Benton, Jr., 
of Rockingham, Vermont, where he made his home with his 
parents. 

He went with his brother Samuel to Waterford in 1801, 
and took the freeman's oath in that town on the first Tues- 
day of September in that year. He lived in Waterford, with 
the exception of one year, 1807, for twenty-one years. In 
1802 and 1803 he paid only the poll tax. In 1804 he was a 
petit juror and one of the listers. In the years 1804, 1805, 
and 1 806 he was taxed for one horse, the assessment of which 
shows that it was a valuable animal, I think without doubt 
one of the original "Vermont Morgans." 

His mother died at Rockingham, July 21, 1805, and his 
father continued to reside there until his death January 13, 
1807; and January 29, 1807, Jacob sold the four acres of 
land in Rockingham where his father and mother had lived 
to Benjamin Stephens, of Rockingham, for one hundred dol- 
lars. In the deed he describes himself as of Waterford, and 
the land is described as being "on the bank of the Connec- 

* '■'■Statutes of the State of Vermont" Ed. 1787, /►. 135. 



$ts ancestors 113 

ticut River." The deed was acknowledged in Westminster, jacob 
Vermont, on the day of its date. benton 

His name does not appear on the tax list of Waterford in ^_, 
1807. March 18, 1808, he purchased one hundred acres of 
land in Waterford for two hundred dollars, of one Rice, which 
he reconveyed to Rice February 25, 18 10, from which I infer 
that he purchased the land for timber and reconveyed it after 
he had cut the timber. He was unmarried and lived a part 
of the time with his brother Samuel, and boarded in other 
families in Waterford the remainder of the time. He seems 
to have accumulated money, as in 1 808 he was taxed in 
Waterford for five hundred dollars "money at interest," in 
1 8 10 and 1 8 1 1 for six hundred dollars, and in 1 8 1 2 for eight 
hundred dollars and one watch. In 18 14 he was taxed on 
nine hundred dollars "money at interest," and in the years 
18 1 5, 1 8 16, and 18 17 on one thousand dollars. In 181 8 he 
was taxed on twelve hundred dollars, and in 1 820 on eighteen 
hundred dollars "money at interest" and one horse. In 1821 
and 1822 he was taxed for two thousand dollars "money at 
interest" and one two-year-old colt. 

During the latter part of the time that he lived in Water- 
ford, he was quite active in town affairs. In 18 14 he was sec- 
ond selectman, in 1815 first selectman, in 1818 and 18 19 he 
was chosen petit juror. At a special town meeting, March 29, 
1820, he was chosen "Agent to petition the Supreme Court 
for a committee to alter the North Road, so called, and to at- 
tend the County Court to use his endeavours to stop the fine 
from coming on to said Road." The warning for this meeting 
stated there had been a complaint because this road was out 
of repair, and the town doubtless feared that it would be in- 
dicted therefor. In 1820 he was town highway surveyor, and 
in September, 1820, was unanimously elected to represent 
the town in the General Assembly of the State. In 1821 he 
was one of the town auditors, and in September, 1821, he 
was again elected representative to the General Assembly. 
In February, 1822, he was chosen as "delegate to represent 
the town of Waterford in the convention to be held at Mans- 
field on the third Tuesday of February, 1822," which was a 
convention to revise the constitution of the State. In 1822 



ii4 



Samuel £>IaDe Benton 



jacob he was second selectman and one of a committee of three "to 
benton report how much money had been collected during the year 
^J^Z an d what had been done with it." 

July 4, 1822, he bought what was known as the "Lord 
Farm" in St. Johnsbury for twenty-seven hundred dollars. 
This was one of the best farms in Caledonia County, and he 
removed to it that summer. He appears to have mortgaged 
it on the same day he bought it to John W. Chandler of 
Peacham, Vermont, for two thousand dollars. This farm was 
conveyed as containing two hundred and twelve acres, being 
"the homestead whereon the said Lord now liveth, lying at 
the South end of St. Johnsbury Plain, so called." St. Johns- 
bury was first settled on this farm in 1786, by James Adams 
and Martin Adams, his son. It was occupied by Jacob Benton 
and Samuel Slade Benton from 1822 until 1841, and hence 
was called "Benton's Meadows." 

Jacob Benton was first taxed in St. Johnsbury in 1823. He 
was then fifty seven or eight years old, and during the re- 
maining five or six years that he lived in St. Johnsbury he 
does not appear to have held any town or other office. He 
was taken suddenly ill while attending " Freeman's Meeting," 
Tuesday, September 3, 1828, and went to his home, where 
he died on Saturday of the same week, September 7. He had 
been in good health before, and his brother Samuel, in an- 
nouncing the death to his friends in Connecticut, said that 
the death was "a very unexpected stroke of mortality." He 
was buried in the cemetery at St. Johnsbury Plain, now known 
as the "old cemetery," on the upper side of the cemetery next 
the highway, about fifty rods from the entrance. His grave 
is marked by a large freestone slab with the following in- 
scription: — 

"Jacob Benton 

Esq. 

Died Sept. 7, 1828 

Aged 62 Years" 

I do not remember that my grandfather or grandmother 
ever told me anything about him, but my Uncle Jacob, who 
was named for him, and my father, both remembered him well. 



J^ts ancestors n 5 

They admired him much, and have both told me many things jacob 
about his kindness and excellent qualities. They thought he benton 
was the best man they ever knew. Old family letters which U^_, 
have come into my possession show that he certainly was 
most kind and helpful to his parents and the other members 
of his family. He furnished a home for his father and mother, 
and I think practically supported them in their old age. Upon 
hearing of his father's illness in January, 1 807, he at once 
went from Waterford to Alstead, where his father was ill and 
died at the house of his daughter, Mrs. Kingsbury, and paid 
all the funeral expenses and charges. In the winter of 181 1, 
when his brother Reynold was ill at Hartford, he went from 
Waterford there, and remained until his brother's death in 
March. He was the only relative there when his brother died, 
and as Reynold was in destitute circumstances, he paid the 
expenses of his illness and funeral, and as he wrote to his sister 
Elizabeth, saw him buried "with decency." He was himself 
not well at this time, being troubled, as he wrote his sister, 
with a bad cough, and on his return to Waterford he found 
the travelling very bad, and went a good portion of the dis- 
tance on foot. He wrote his sister from Waterford that he 
found "much perplexity" with his own affairs on his return, 
having been absent so long. 

In the spring of 18 17, he visited his sister, Mary Kings- 
bury, at Gill, Massachusetts, and visited his sister, Mabel 
Worster, then a widow, at Alstead, apparently for the pur- 
pose of seeing if he could be of assistance to them, as they 
were in pecuniary difficulties. He was absent from his home 
for some time, and on his return he wrote his nephew, Joel 
Gridley, of Harwinton, that he found his own affairs had 
suffered in consequence of his absence. His letter is quite 
full with regard to the condition of affairs, giving the prices 
of the produce at the various places where he went, and noting 
the remarkable fact that in Alstead, Keene, etc., the prices 
of hay and oats, potatoes and wheat, were more than double 
the prices in the "country above Newbury, Vermont." 

In October of the same year he went again to Alstead to 
see his sister Mabel, and stayed several weeks with her and 
with the Slades. On his return he wrote his brother-in-law, 



1 1 6 Samuel §>la&e Benton 

jacob Gridley, in December, saying among other things that he had 

benton been "so unwell as to consent to send for a doctor, but re- 

l]r.L covered without one." I think he subsequently took his sister, 

Mabel Worster, to St. Johnsbury, and that she kept house 

for him and was living with him there when he died. 

My father says his Uncle Jacob was a very particular man 
about everything, and did whatever he had to do in the very 
best way; that he always wanted the very best things, kept 
his buildings and grounds in most excellent condition, and 
carried on his farm better than his neighbors. He was very 
fond of horses, and one of the first to breed the noted Ver- 
mont Morgans. His brother Samuel wrote to his nephew, 
Joel Gridley, in 1830, that he had a fine colt, saying, "It is 
one of your uncle's breed." 

His letters which I have are well written in a good hand- 
writing, and expressed in a concise, excellent English style. 
I think he must have had better advantages for education 
than my grandfather. When he was a child his father was en- 
gaged in trade in Harwinton, and Jacob was doubtless sent 
to school there. 

I think he was somewhat of a gossip, kindly and curious, 
interested and helpful in the affairs of others. He had a 
quaint, dry humor, and frequently pointed his expression 
of opinion as to the conduct of others by references to the 
Scripture, with which he was evidently very familiar. For in- 
stance, when his sister Mabel, in whose welfare he seems to 
have taken much interest, and whose oldest son had turned 
out badly and squandered her money, began to give money 
to another son contrary to her brother's views of what was 
proper, he referred to her conduct in a letter to his sister 
Elizabeth by the simple citation, "See Ezekiel xix: 5." Ref- 
erence to the citation shows this verse: "Now when she saw 
that she had waited, and her hope was lost, then she took 
another of her whelps, and made him a young lion." 

I think he must have liked books, for when he died he 
appears by the appraisal of his estate to have owned a large 
Bible, appraised at four dollars, another appraised at forty 
cents, a hymn-book appraised at fifty cents, a copy of Thom- 
son's Seasons, a copy of Milton's Works, and a copy of 



$ts ancestors n? 

Young's Night Thoughts, besides "two old books." I doubt jacob 
if anybody in town except the minister had more. benton 

The following is an abstract of what appears in the Jour- 11^, 
nals of the Assembly and of the Constitutional Convention 
with regard to Jacob Benton's action as a member: — 

The Journal of the House does not show that he served 
on any committee except the special committee to equalize 
the appraisement of real estate among the several towns. 

There were then, however, only eleven standing com- 
mittees of four members each, making forty-four out of the 
entire membership of nearly two hundred. The custom seems 
to have been to appoint committees upon separate bills 
and petitions and resolutions as introduced, and upon some 
of these he served. He does not appear to have promoted 
legislation by introduction of bills or resolutions. He voted 
against the bill to revise the judiciary system of the State, 
which was passed. 

He voted for an act, which was passed, limited in opera- 
tion to one year only, to regulate the practice of physic and 
surgery. This act provided that no person could collect com- 
pensation for administering medicine or performing surgical 
operations, unless he was a member of some legally consti- 
tuted medical society in Vermont, or had a degree as bache- 
lor or doctor of physics, or was licensed by the judges of the 
Supreme Court, who were authorized to issue such licenses, 
calling to their assistance two or more regular physicians, mem- 
bers of some legally constituted medical society in the State. 
(Chapter 15, Acts 1820.) 

In 1822 he was chairman of the committee on change of 
names. 

The Journal shows that he voted at every call of the yeas 
and nays, which were then called on nearly every measure of 
any consequence. He voted against a bill to reduce the pay of 
members from one dollar and a half to one dollar a day. He 
voted for a proposition, which was defeated, giving males 
twice as much by inheritance in real estate as females. He 
voted against an act for the preservation offish in the streams 
of Vermont, and against an act to prevent intemperance, and 
voted steadily for an act granting a new trial in the famous 



1 1 8 Samuel Siatie Benton 

jacob case of Heman Allen v. Silas Hathaway. This ad, which 
benton W as passed November 13, 1822, was one of the last acts 
U^_s granting new trials in Vermont, and it was passed by a large 
majority against the unanimous report of the judiciary com- 
mittee. He voted against the bill to grant aid to the Univer- 
sity of Vermont, against all bills for incorporating banks, and 
generally against all private claim bills. 

He voted against all bills granting new trials, except in 
Allen v. Hathaway. 

He voted in favor of a bill, which was passed, lessening 
time of imprisonment for poor debtors before they could 
take the poor debtor's oath; but voted against the proposed 
amendment to the bill giving a justice of the peace author- 
ity to administer the poor debtor's oath. The law then pro- 
vided that the poor debtor's oath could be taken before com- 
missioners under the statute of March 9, 1797. Mr. Benton 
voted for the bill, which was passed, providing that these 
commissioners should be appointed by the Supreme Court 
at the jury session instead of at the law term in each county. 

In 1 8 19 an act was passed to exempt judgment debtors 
on executions issued by justices of the peace from arrest, 
unless the damages exceeded fifteen dollars. Early in the ses- 
sion of 1822 a bill was introduced to repeal this acl:, and the 
controversy over it extended through the entire session. Mr. 
Benton, in common with the members from the small towns, 
where most debts were collected by suits before justices, 
voted at every stage for the repeal of this act. The Governor 
and Council first non-concurred in the repeal of this act, and 
then proposed amendments thereto, but finally yielded and 
the bill became a law. (Chapter 18, Acts 18 19.) Vermont had 
then no Senate, and acts of the Legislature did not then be- 
come laws at the session when passed unless concurred in by 
the Governor and Council. (Vermont Const., 1786, section 
xvi. "An Act directing the form of passing Laws." Passed 
February 27, 1787.) 

He voted against an amendment to the United States Con- 
stitution, proposed for the consideration of the several States 
by Pennsylvania, providing that Congress should create no 
bank or other moneyed institution except within the District 



$fe Ancestors n 9 

of Columbia. The admission of Missouri into the Union with jacob 
a constitution authorizing slavery seems to have been a matter benton 
of general interest to the Assembly at that time, and Mr. Ben- U^Z 
ton with all other members voted for a lengthy preamble and 
resolutions reciting that the Assembly viewed with "regret 
and alarm the attempt of the inhabitants of Missouri to ob- 
tain admission into the Union under a constitution which 
legalizes and secures the continuance of slavery," and that in 
its opinion "the principles, powers, and restrictions contained 
in the reported constitution of Missouri are anti-republican 
and repugnant to the Constitution of the United States and 
subversive of the inalienable rights of man." (Assembly Jour- 
nal, 1820, p. 241.) 

The Constitutional Convention, which met at Montpelier 
in February, 1822, was called to consider articles of amend- 
ment proposed by the Council of Censors, on March 24, 
1821. 

The first amendment provided for two branches of the 
General Assembly, and that all money bills should originate 
in the House of Representatives. Mr. Benton voted against 
this, and it was rejected. The second provided for representa- 
tion according to population, thus taking power from the 
small towns. Mr. Benton voted against, and it was rejected. 
The third provided that no member of the House of Rep- 
resentatives or the Council (that is, of the legislative body) 
should while such be appointed a judge, sheriff, bailiff, State's 
attorney, justice of the peace, or superintendent or any other 
officer of the State's prison. Mr. Bentonvoted for this amend- 
ment, but it was rejected. The fourth enlarged the powers of 
the Governor in certain respects, and limited his power in re- 
spect to granting pardons and commanding the military. Mr. 
Benton voted against this amendment, which was rejected. 
The fifth article extended the term of judges of the Supreme 
Court to seven years, and provided for impeachment for mis- 
conduct. Mr. Benton voted against this, and it was rejected. 

The appraisal of his estate shows that he had excellent 
wearing apparel, including "a silk vest," which was certainly 
an article of luxury then, and that he had a well-furnished 
house and a well-kept farm, with abundant live stock, cattle, 



^amurl ^laDr ISnuon 



i wok horses, and sheep. The estate was appraised at tour thousand, 

unton unit hundred and thirty dollars and eighty-four cents, and 
^^ then the appraisers appear to have found " co bu, of corn 

mote,'* which w.is appraised at twenty-five dollars, making .1 

total of tour thousand] tour hundred and fifty five dollars and 

eight) tor. . ot which the farm, furniture) stock, etc., 

were appraised .it three thousand three hundred and chirr \ 

s.\ dollars ami fblty five cents, and the balance was in notes 

.u\d demands. 

t le left no will, and his brother Samuel was appointed ad 
mimstt.itor September i ;, iS:S,and administered the estate, 
although no record ot the settlement is now to be found in 
the Probate Court. 

The following is a copy ot the record of the administration 
and appraisal of his estate so tar as it now exists: — 

Stati ok Vi&mont j AT a Probate Court holden at 

Caledonia D I E\> Danville in said District on 

the 13th, day of September, a. d, 
1 S : S. by Hem. K. Deming, Esqr., Judge ot said Court, Samuel 
S. Benton ot Waterford, in said district, w. is duly appointed 
administrator of the Estate of Jacob Benton late of St Johns- 
bury in said District deceased, who accepted said trust and 
g-ave bond with surety to make and return to the ot 

said Court a true and perfect" inventor} of s.ud estate. 0:1 or 
before the 13th. dav of" December next ensuing and also to 
render an account ot his administration to said Court on or 
before the thirteenth day ot' September, v. \ iS:o. 

And Luther Clark ot" St. Johnsbury, Joseph Arming 

of" Water ford, and Levi P. Parks ot Bat-net. all m said Dis- 
trict, were duly appointed appraisers to make and return upon 
oath m\ inventory ot" said estate, both real and personal, :o 
the register ot" said Court within three months from the date 
hereof, and a warrant issued accordingly. 

And the said Administrator having represented said es 
.:•.-•'.'.', the said Clark, Armington, .\nd Parks were duly ap- 
pointed Commissioners to receive, examine, and adjust ail 
claims and demands ot" all persons against said estate, and six 



tyts Ancestors 



i: i 



months from the date hereof is allowed for the several cred- JACOB 
itors to said estate to exhibit and prove their claims, and for BBNTON 
said commissioners to make and return to said Court of all ll^L 
the claims which shall have been laid before them, with the 
sums allowed and disallowed on each claim, and a Commis- 
sion of Insolvency issued accordingly. 

By order of the fudge^ 
Attest Sam'i. B. Mattocks, Register. 

^| List of Claims 

To the Hon. 'The Probate Court for the District of Caledonia 

WE the subscribing commissioners appointed to receive, 
examine, and adjust all claims and demands of all per- 
sons against the estate of Jacob Benton of St. Johnsbury in 
said district, deceased, and all claims and demands exhibited 
in offset thereto, having been duly sworn to the faithful dis- 
charge of the trust reposed in us, and having given public no- 
tice of the time and places when and where we would attend 
to the business of our appointment by advertising the same 
three weeks successively in the North Star, printed at Dan- 
ville, and by posting up notifications in Barnet, Waterford, 
and St. Johnsbury as directed in the warrant, have attended 
to the service assigned us and report the following as the list 
of claims with the several offsets made by us. 

Morrill Stevens ac<5t., allowed at $5.15 & set- 
tled by offset except $2.80 

I. & L. Clarke account, $6.22; Daniel Har- 
vey, $0.50 6.72 

John Armington account, $1.30; Abel Butler, 
^ $2.50 3.80 

Clark Cushman account, allowed at $370.22 \ 
and settled by offset on note, leaving balance V 
due on note $523.48 J 

Sarah Powers ac&.,$i 7.00; Ezekiel Vose's acct., 

$5.00 22.00 

Emery Goss acd., $69.17; Reuben C. Benton's 

acd., $18.85 88.02 



122 



Samuel £>lat>e Benton 



jacob Jo Barney acnhcl:., $1.25; Reuben C. Benton's 

benton note in fav. D. Goss, $36.85 38.10 

12^ Joseph Thurston accl:., .50; Jacob Ide, 2d.,) 

Do., $2.85; Mordecai Hale, $12.27 J 15.62 

Erastus Frilding, $5.43; E. & T. Fairbanks, 

$4.71 ^ 10.14 

Hannah Benton accl;., $1.00; Clarke & Bishop, 

$\.66 1.66 

Hollis Roberts accl:., allowed at $14.32, and) 

settled by endorsements on notes against him J 

Abel M. Rice's accl:. $1.00; Richard Goss, $3.00 4.00 

John W. Chandler, 3 Notes and Int. from date 600.00 

" " " 1 Note Int. after July 4, 

1829 248.00 

Dr. Luther Jewett accl:., balance due 16.15 

Ann Chickery accl., balance due after deducting 

$48.00 30.00 

Mabel Worster accl:., allowed at $111.00 and 

settled by offset on Note 

$1088.01 

Luther Clark ) 

Joseph Armington J- Commissioners. 

Levi P. Parks. J 

Caledonia District, ss. 

In Probate Court, April 21st., 1829, rec'd. ex'd. allowed 

and ordered to be recorded. , 

Benj. P. Deming, Judge. 

^[ Inventory 
Inventory of Jacob Benton's Estate, late of St. Johnsbury 
in the County of Caledonia, deceased, appraised on oath by 
us the subscribers duly appointed to that service by the 
Honorable Judge of Probate for Caledonia. 

^[ Wearing Apparel 

1 Hat $1.50.; 1 do., .25; 1 Surtout, $2.00 $3-75 

1 Great coat, $5.00; 1 coat, $4.00 9.00 

1 New coat, $4.00; 1 Old coat, .50 4.50 

1 Old Great coat, $1.00; 2 pr. pants, $4.00 5.00 

1 pr. old pantaloons .25 



tyis Ancestors ^ 

3 old vests, .50; 2 new do. $2.00 2.50 jacob 

1 Silk Vest, .50; 1 Cap, 50 c. 1.00 benton 

1 pr. Gloves, 25 c; 2 pr. mittens, 25 c .50 l]^^, 

4 pr. footings, 50 c; 1 pr. worsted Do. 40 c. .90 
3 pr. Do. 40 c; 1 Belt, 50 c .90 

1 pr. Suspenders, 25 c; 2 Hdks. $1.00 1.25 
3 cotton Hdks. 50 c; 1 linen shirt, 50 c 1.00 
9 Cotton Shirts 3«oo 

2 shirtees, 25 c; 10 yds. cloth, $1.25 1.50 
6 White Cravats, 50 c; 1 Hdk. 50 c 1.00 
1 Shaving glass box, Razor, and Strap .75 
1 pr. old boots, 75 c; 1 pr. old shoes, $1.00 1.75 
1 Hdk. 13 c; 1 pr. old saddle bags, $1.50 1.63 

1 Waiter, 50 c; 8 bags, $4.00 4.50 
12 Dining chairs, $9.00 9.00 
23^ f. Tables 5.50 

2 Stands, $2.00; 1 old Razor and strap, .75 c 2.75 
1 old Trunk, 50 c; 2 chests, $2.00 2.50 
Pocket book, 0.75; 1 pr. D. S. Mittens, .25 1.00 
1 pr. Silver Sleeve Buttons .20 
1 Stove, $20.00; 1 Spider, 0.50 20.50 
1 dish kettle, $1.00; Iron Bason, .34 1.34 
1 Kettle, .25; 4 old chairs, $1.00 1.25 
Looking Glass, $1.50; Clock, $10.00 11.50 
1 Brass Kettle, $7.50; 20 pans, $1.00 8.50 

1 Cheese Press, $1.25; 2 tin pails, .50 1.75 

2 tubs, 75 c; 1 churn, 34 c 1.09 
1 pail, 25 c; 2 Do. 34 c .59 
1 coffee pot, 20 c; 3 cream pots, 25 c .45 

3 trays, 50 c; Jug, 8 c; lanthorn, .12 .70 
1 sad iron, 23 c; Tongs, 75 c 1.08 
1 pr. fire dogs 1.00 

$114.88 

1 salt mortar, 25 c; Decanter, .34 $ .59 

1 sett Tea ware, $2.00; Glass salt, .13 2.13 

2 tumblers, 20 c; 1 Creamer, 8 c .28 
1 Mug, 20 c; 3 bottles, 40 c .60 
1 Large Bible, $4.00; 1 Do. 40 c 4-4-0 



12 4 



Samuel £>laDe Benton 



jacob Thompson's Seasons, 20 c; Hymn Book, 50 c| 

benton Milton's Works, 20 c J ' 9 ° 

^_3 Young's Thoughts .23 

2 old Books, 25 c; 1 Loom, $4.00 4*25 
1 Saddle, $15.00; 1 Do. $7.00 22.00 

3 baskets, 75 c; 24*^ rolls, $ 10.00 10.75 
1 Great Wheel 1.25 
1 check'd. Blanket 2.00 
1 Feather bed and pillows 7.50 

1 Coverlid 2.50 

2 Woollen Shirts, $3.00 3*oo 
1 Bedstead & Cord 2.00 
30 lbs. yarn, $15.00; Old bed, $4.00 19.00 

1 Good feather bed, 2 pillows, 1 

Coverlid, Blanket, 3 shirts, V 13*00 
Bedstead, cord, and under bedj 

2 Meat Tubs, $2.00; 4^ bbls., $1.00 3.00 
1 Old BB1. 50 c; Keg, .25 .75 
1 Keg, 17 c; 2 Tubs Butter 90 lbs., $10.00 10.17 
Lot cheese, say 400 lbs. 25.00 

1 Sow and 5 pigs 24.00 

2 hogs, $28.00; 1 Wagon, $30.00 58.00 
1 M. long shingles 6.00 
100 sap Buckets 10.00 
1 Cutter, $10.00; 2 Buffaloes, $8.00 18.00 
Collar, traces, & Whiffletrees 1.50 
1 Halter & Bridle .50 
1 Harness 10.00 
1 Old Scythe .50 

3 old ploughs 10.00 



$273.80 

3 pitch forks $1.00 

2 chains, $4.00; 2 Oxen, $60.00 64.00 

1 2 yr. old heifer 15.00 

3 Yearlings 23.00 
5 Cows, $65.00; 1 Do., $17.00 82.00 

2 2 yr. olds, $14.00; 2 calves, $7.00 21.00 
1 Mare, $60.00; 1 Yearling colt, $27.00 87.00 



tyis ancestors ^s 

i 2 year old colt, $35.00; 1 Sucking Colt, $20.00 jacob 

24 sheep, $25.00 80.00 benton 

1 grindstone and crank 4.00 J^ , 

2 store tubs, $2.00; 2 Tierces, $1.00 3.00 
1 Sett measures 1.00 
i 1 /?, bu. Flaxseed 2.50 
1 Blbl., 50 c; 1 Crow bar, $2.00 2.50 

1 Shovel, $0.75; 3 Axes, $1.00 1.75 

2 old Scythes, &c, $2.00; 1 Broad axe, $1.50 3.50 
5 Augurs, $1.00; 2 Sickles, 50 c 1.50 

3 chisels, 50 c; 1 Shave, 50 c 1.00 

1 Iron sq., 50 c; 1 pr. compasses, 10 c .60 
Hoe, 20 c; 1 Old bridle, 25 c .45 

2 old soap bbls. and Soap 6.00 

4 rakes, 50 c; 1 Harrow, $3.00 Z-S° 

25 tons hay, $100; 1 yoke and bow, $1.50 101.50 
1 cart, $7.00; 1 Water tub, 50 c 7.50 

$S l 3-3° 

Cash, $40.71; 30 sheep and 9 lbs. Wool,) ~ 

$30.00; 60 bu. oats, $15.00 j '*' 

Cash for Armington Note 90.00 

50 bu. Corn, $25.00; 13 Wheat, $17.34 4 2 -34 

20 bu. Rye, $13.34; 100 Potatoes, $12.50 25-84 

1 Coverlid, $5.00; 6 yds. Table Cloth, $1.00 6.00 

2 Hammers, 60 c; 1 Linen Wheel, $1.50 2.10 
1 Saw, 50 c; 2 tow sheets, $2.00 2.50 

3 woolen Sheets, $4.50; 3 full'd Blankets, | 

$6.00; 2 checked do., $4.50 j *' 

Brought forward $114.88 & $273.80 $388.68 

Farm appraised at $2200.00 

$337 1 -47 

^[ Notes and Demands 

1 Note Russell & Davis, April 4, 1828 $275.00 

1 " Eben Farnum, OcT:. 16, '26 30.62 

1 " B. Fuller, Dec. 17, '27, bal. 1.32 
1 " Euph.& Jas. Ramsey, due3 136 f.hem-1 

lock boards I 9-4 



i26 Samuel £>Iafce Benton 

jacob I Note Hollis Roberts, Mar. i, '27, Int. paid 

benton to Feb. 9, 1829 2 5-90 
l]°Z 1 " Do. same date Int. paid 

to Feb. 9, 1829 80.00 

Order on Town Treasurer 0.75 

Demands vs. Town St. Johnsbury 4.13 

1 Note D. Smith 7.22 

1 " A. Gilchrist, due 16. 11 
1 " R. Goss, Otis Goss & Lena Goss, due 

Feb. 9, 1829 59.72. 
1 Note Clark Cushman, due Nov. 1828 5 2 3-4-8 
1 " Mabel Worster, April 21, 1827, set- 
tled by Off-set. 
1 Note Adam Duncan, July 30, 1827, no in- 
terest reckoned on this 5.89 
1 Note Hollis Roberts 4.05 
1 " James Ramsey, for 1 Wheel 2.50 
Int. on the above to Nov. 28 13-28 
Amt. brought up 3371.47 

#4430.84 

50 bu. corn more 25.00 

$4455.84 

Deduct Farnum note and interest 34.3 8 



$4421.46 

Joseph Armington,] 
Luther Clark. 1- Corns. 
Levi P. Parks. 

Caledonia ss. 

In Probate Court, Ap. 21, 1829. 
Rec'd. ex'd. allowed and ordered to be recorded. 

Benj. F. Deming, 

Judge. 



tyis ancestors 127 

I have several original letters of Jacob Benton and this is jacob 

a facsimile of his signature to one written May 12, 18 17. benton 

1766 




The following letter to his brother-in-law, Silas Gridley, 
shows that he had decided opinions and did not hesitate to 
express them. 

Water ford 30M Deer, 18 17 
Mr. Gridley, 

SIR: I was not much more fortunate in the passage of your 
letter than you had been in receiving mine which you no- 
tice the receipt of. I did not receive it untill the 27th Instant 
there was written on it (Missent forward) and that mistake I 
think was made in the Post Office at Harwinton as the post- 
age marked upon it should carry it 400 miles, the letter I re- 
fer to was under date of Sept. 30th. I was so unwell in Sept. 
as to consent to send for a Doctor but recovered without one 
and at present never enjoyed better health except a little of 
the Rheumatism. It is the most universally healthy in these 
parts that I have ever known it to be. Sir you inform me that 
you had heard nothing from Gill or Alstead Nath'l Kings- 
bury came up here about the first of July and brought Han- 
nah with him. In addition to her wit, beauty & other accom- 
plishments she brought Bag & baggage, though I believe 
neither of them had much use for money bags while here. 
Sam'ls wife projected a scheme went with Nath. and introduced 
her to Canada. She has not yet returned though her frequent 
letters promise it soon. Nath'l I think did not return from 
the Southward till June. I could not learn much from him 
about his profits. I believe it proved much like their other 
enterprizes, cost more than it came to. 

Nath'l wrote to his uncle Sam this fall that he wished to 
come up here and take a school. Sam'l engaged one for him 
sent him a letter and have heard no more from him. I have 
been at Alstead and staid 20 days from the 18th of October 



1^8 Samuel Slatie Benton 

jacob All well there. Sister Worster had been at Gill the week 
benton before. Nath '1 was attending the Academy at Chesterfield. 
l?~_l She thought them poor, embarrassed in debt and that they 
must sell before long. She had sold off a portion of her own 
farm last spring, had kept Ralph with her and seemed to have 
much confidence in him (Ezekiel XlXth 5th.) I believe she 
was better provided for with the necessaries of subsistence than 
she had been for some years before. Arad was on the point 
of removing away to Middlesex in Vermont where David 
Watts lives. Speed to the measure may he long continue as 
far detached from his mother. Sally worked out most of the 
time & Ann did same. Her granddaughter Sawyer discovers 
much of her Sawyer innate propensity, that of a depraved 
vicious romp with but little of correction or cultivation or 
likely to receive it there. I left Alstead (Slades) the 10th Nov. 
there has been snow on the highlands here about 6 weeks but 
on account of the thaws that have come there is but little yet 
on the open land. There is no news of importance here, this 
however: that vicious old Harridan (alias) mother Prouty re- 
mains here has a house fixt up near Sam's and it seems likely 
they may long enjoy the benefit of her. The season past has 
in general produced abundant crops except Indian corn, which 
was but trifling on uplands here and grass but a moderate crop 
Cattle have been very high in price and continue so yet. I 
conclude cousin Salmon's situation will be more agreeable to 

whom it may concern than some other stations he has 

occupied Neither yourself nor Lyman have let slip one hint 
respecting your wife nor Nim so I feel under no responsibility 
to give you any account of mine. 

Your uncle Sam'l has lost nothing of his propensity for 
making winter voyages, he has pursued it for two years much 
to his disadvantage. But like an unlucky gamester with loss 
upon loss pursues the game to retrieve former losses. I would 
have written to you from Alstead had I received your letter 
seasonable, the detention of mine I cannot account for. I did 
not expect to have visited Alstead when I did, but I was di- 
verted from my first purpose and returned. I would pay the 
postage on my frivolous letters were it not that I think they 
would be more likely to be neglected in some Post Offices. 



tyis ancestors 129 

If you should receive this in any season and will write tome jacob 
again please to put on the direction in (Caledonia County) for benton 
the other I think has been sent by Bennington and to Water- l]^_, 
bury in this State. Such mistakes the Post Master here in- 
forms me has been made between these two towns their names 
some similar, .... ought to be sent by way of Hartford. 

I have not much more room to write but I must not for- 
get the due regards I owe to your Father and Mother, Broth- 
ers and others Lyman has intimated something in his writing 
that favoured a little of reflection but as I am not certain what 
he alludes to I shall not comment on it. So Adieu Sir, I believe 
you will think it enough unless it were better. I remain, sin- 
cerely yours &c. 

Jacob Benton. 



Reynold Benton 

i768(?)-i8n 



Reynold Benton 

i7 68(?)-i8i i 



REYNOLD BENTON, born probably in 1768, was 
with his father's family in Alstead, New Hampshire, 
- in 1783, at the age of about fourteen years. The next 
information I have of him is found in a letter from his father, 
July 29, 1 79 1, when Reynold was about twenty-four, which 
shows that he was then in some business in Hartford. It does 
not appear why he went to Hartford, but I think he went 
back when he became of age, possibly before, and went to 
sea. In September, 1 802, his father wrote to him at Hartford 
to know whether he "intended to go to sea that fall," and in 
a letter by his father in 1 804 he states that " Reynold came 
home from sea" the previous summer. 

He married Huldah Clark probably about 1792 or 1793, 
and they lived at Hartford until his death in March, 181 1. 

The tradition in the family is that Reynold Benton was a 
very large, powerful man, and my father has told me of the 
feats of strength which he used to hear in his boyhood were 
performed by his Uncle Reynold. He seems to have been a 
man of good disposition and character, and respected, but to 
have been unfortunate in business matters. He lost his health 
and property, and died March 20, 181 1, of consumption at 
the age of forty-three, leaving his wife and six children en- 
tirely destitute. He was buried in the South Burying Ground 
at Hartford, March 21, 181 1, "Parson Flint officiating," as 
his brother Jacob wrote in a letter I now have. This is a fac- 
simile of the signature of Reynold Benton to a letter in my 
possession written August 7, 1803. 



a. 



)T 



'^f^^t^ ^*>'-C>?ZS&^? 



>~*&2?&? 



His wife was evidently a superior woman. I have letters 
written by her in 18 19, indicating that she was of good edu- 



134 



Samuel £>iaDe Benton 



Reynold cation and capacity, and was striving very hard to educate 
benton her girls. She speaks of sending her daughter Hannah, who 
l2z!L was then with her aunt, Elizabeth Gridley of Harwinton, to 
the Litchfield Academy, and says at the same time that Jane 
was living in the family of Parson Flint of the Second Church. 
She remained a widow and died at the age of seventy-nine. 
This is a facsimile of her signature to a letter in my posses- 
sion written July 28, 18 19. 



t/u<u£sO>&, q/ ? i 



Ja 

Reynold and Huldah (Clark) Benton had six children, all 
born in Hartford: Jane, Emily, George, Charles, Henry, 
and Hannah E. Their names are thus given by Charles in a 
letter which I have, written in 1 867, when he and Hannah E. 
were the only ones living and I believe this was the order of 
their births. 

Jane lived as a girl in the family of Rev. Abel Flint, pastor 
of the Second Church, and the record of that church ( ante, 
p. 37) and the inscription on her gravestone in the Old South 
Church yard show that she died unmarried May 9, 1 824, aged 
thirty years, which makes her birth to have been in 1794. 

Emily married Roderick Seymour, of Hartford, in the 
Second Church, September 8, 18 16 (ante, p. 36). They were 
both living in Rochester, New York, in July, 1831. 

George married and, as I am informed, had two daughters. 
In August, 1 83 1, he lived in Troy, New York. 

Charles was born March 26, 1801. He wrote me in 1882 
of his life. He said that when his father died he was ten years 
old and his Uncle Jacob, who was at the funeral, wished to 
take him to Vermont and bring him up, but his mother was 
unwilling because Vermont was so far away. He was then "put 
out to a farmer about four miles from Hartford," and when 
he was fourteen he "was apprenticed to C. Nichols for seven 
years to learn the soap and candle business for $30 a year." 
When he was twenty-one he was forty-five dollars in debt, 
which he "worked out." He then went to Rochester, New 
York, as he said, "without money or friends." June 2, 1825, 
he married Mary Church, daughter of James and Mary (Wads- 



$ts ancestors 



*3S 



worth) Church, of Hartford, where she was born August 24, Reynold 
1 800. He lived at Rochester until 1 83 8, and had five children benton 
born there:— U^L 

William Rochester ■, born January 16, 1827; died May 13, 
1829, at Hartford. 

Charles Prior, born April 21, 1830. 

Emily Nichols, born February 1, 1832. 

Jane, born July 17, 1835; died May 4, 1 83 6, at Rochester. 

Mary Church, born July 27, 1837; died September 17, 
1864, at Hartford. 

In the spring of 1838, he returned to Hartford and lived 
there until his death. He had two children born in Hart- 
ford:— 

Charlotte W., born January 31,1 840; died January 13, 1 841 . 

Mariah Huldah, born April 18, 1844. 

Mary, the wife of Charles Benton, died at Hartford, No- 
vember 10, 1 870, and he afterwards married Amanda Thomp- 
son, a widow, who survived him, but died May 12, 1889. 

He was an enterprising man of great energy and persistence. 
He was successful in the accumulation of property, and con- 
tinued in business until 1 876, when he was seventy-five years 
old, and was chosen president of the Hartford and New York 
Steamboat Company, and retired from business. He was a 
member of the Court of Common Council of Hartford in 
1 861, and in 1862 was mayor of the city. (Hist. Hartford 
County, Vol. I. p. 385.) He died December 18, 1886, at the 
age of eighty-five. The following is a facsimile of his signa- 
ture to the letter referred to above. 




Henry was born May 4, 1803, at Hartford. He married 



136 Samuel £>iat>e Benton 

Reynold Jane J. Sedgwick of Hartford, October 7, 1824. They had 
benton seven children, all born at Hartford: — 
^t Jane M., born July 3, 1825; died October 1, 1832. 

Martha A., born August 29, 1827; died April 15, 1828. 

Mary A., born May 7, 1829; died October 20, 1829. 

Harriet E., born June 28, 1831; died October 11, 1832. 

Sarah Jane, born August 15, 1833; died July 10, 1894. 

Frances Amelia, born October 17, 1836. 

Frederick Henry, born May 6, 1838. 

Jane (Sedgwick) Benton, wife of Henry Benton, died April 
5, 1 843, at Hartford, and October 16, 1843, he married Mary 
Griswold of Hartford. There were no children by this mar- 
riage. She died, and January 10, 1856, he married Katherine 
Derby of Hartford. There were two children by this mar- 
riage, both born at Hartford: — 

Thomas Henry Seymour, born October 12, 1858. 

Jane Emily, born October 12, i860. 

Henry Benton lived all his life in Hartford, and died there 
July 12, 1863. 

Hannah E., the youngest child of Reynold Benton, mar- 
ried George Walker, and they were living in Rochester, New 
York, in July, 1 83 1 . In 1867 her brother Charles wrote that 
she was then a widow living with her children in the city of 
New York. 

Charles Prior Benton, the only son of Charles Benton, and 
grandson of Reynold Benton, who grew up, never married, 
and now lives at Cleveland, Ohio. 

Emily Nichols, daughter of Charles Benton, married Heze- 
kiah Gaylord of Hartford, March 7, 1856, and they had one 
daughter and four sons. 

Mariah Huldah, daughter of Charles Benton, married Allan 
W. Warner of East Haddam, as I am informed. 

Sarah Jane, daughter of Henry and granddaughter of Rey- 
nold Benton, married Ezra Gleason of Halifax, Vermont, 
September 3, 1850. Her sister, Frances Amelia, married 
Edward N. Gleason, brother of Ezra, September 22, 1851. 

Frederick Henry Benton, son of Henry Benton, married 
Eliza Burr of Hartford, January 20, 1857. She died and he 
married again August 10, 1889. 



tyis ancestors i 3 ? 

Jane Emily Benton, the youngest daughter of Henry Ben- Reynold 
ton, is now living in Boston, unmarried. benton 

Thomas Henry Seymour Benton, youngest son of Henry U^_, 
and grandson of Reynold Benton, married Catherine Kelleher, 
daughter of Michael and Catherine (Sheridan) Kelleher, at 
New Haven, November 23, 1889. They had two children : — 

Thomas H., born September 7, 1891 ; died September 20, 
1891. 

Francis F., born October 24, 1892; died December 8, 

1893. 

She died November 20, 1896, and April 30, 1900, he 

married Catherine A., daughter of William and Johanna 
(Purtil) Healey, of Albany, New York, at Naugatuck, Con- 
necticut, where they are now living. He is Judge of Probate 
for the District: of Naugatuck. 



Chauncey Benton 

1770-1833 



Chauncey Benton 

1770-1833 



CHAUNCEY BENTON, born August 1, 1770, did 
not go to Alstead, New Hampshire, with his father's 
family in 1782. He was then a boy of twelve, and 
may have been left in Harwinton, with his sister Elizabeth 
Gridley, who had then but one child. The first information I 
have of him is in a letter written by him to his sister Elizabeth, 
February 9, 1 791, from Cornwall, Vermont, in which he says 
that he has lived in Cornwall almost seven years. This shows 
that he went there about 1785, when he was fourteen or 
fifteen years old, and two or three years after his father 
went to Alstead. Cornwall was settled about that time, the 
church being organized July 15, 1785, by settlers from Litch- 
field County, Connecticut. Harwinton was in this county, 
and there were several Bentons among the first proprietors 
or settlers. I think some of them were probably related to 
Chauncey's father, and that the boy was sent with them to 
live. 

I do not know when he left Cornwall, but he returned to 
Hartford before 1797 and married Betsey Bidwell in the Sec- 
ond Church, June 18, 1797. They lived at Hartford until his 
death, August 17, 1833. 

His wife was born May 22, 1768, and died October 15, 
1839. They had six children, all born in Hartford: — 

Chauncey, born October 23, 1798. 

Fanny, born February 20, 1800; died November 13, 
1870. 

William, born October 25, 1801 ; died January, 1892, at 
Windsor, Connecticut. 

Hannah, born January 26, 1803; died January 26, 1803. 

Ann Y., born February 22, 1805. 

James Slade, born June 22, 1 808 ; died February 1 , 1 87 1 . 

Chauncey is said to have married, but had no children who 
grew up. 



142 



Samuel £>Ia&e Benton 



CHAUN- 

CEY 

BENTON 

1770 



Fanny married Daniel Fish May 9, 1820. He was born 
September 3, 1796. 

William married Eliza Allen of Windsor, but they had 
no children that grew up. 

Ann Y. married William Cadwell, and they had two chil- 
dren, William and Eliza. She is said to have died in one of 
the Western States. 

James Slade, the youngest child of Chauncey Benton, mar- 
ried Amanda Ackley, daughter of John and Mary (Ackley) 
Flint of Wethersfield, Connecticut, where she was born De- 
cember 1, 181 1. I have not the date of this marriage, but it 
was probably in 1 834. They had four children, born at Rocky- 
hill, Connecticut: — 

James Chauncey ', born March 28, 1 83 5 ; died May, 1 869, at 
Rockyhill. 

Fanny Maria, born March 31, 1 836 ; died in 1899 at Hart- 
ford. 

William Henry, born in June, 1837. 

George, born in September, 183 9; died in 18 65 at Rockyhill. 

They also had two children born at Hartford: — 

Charles Francis, born in August, 1845. 

Ann Amanda, born in June, 1 847 ; died in August, 1 849, 
at Hartford. 

James Chauncey married Wealthy Peck of Hartford, and 
they had one daughter, who died young. 

William Henry was living in Springfield, Massachusetts, 
in 1898, and had no children. 

Charles Francis is unmarried, and lives in Hartford. 

Fanny Maria, who is now living, as I am informed, in 
Florida, married at Rockyhill Lambert Wesley Smith of 
Hartford. They had three children, William and Mary, who 
both died young, and Eva A., born in i860, who married a 
Daniels of Hartford, where he died about 1896. 

Chauncey Benton does not appear to have been a land-owner 
in Hartford and I think he had some mechanical occupation. 
He did not accumulate property, but appears to have been 
poor all his life. He is said to have been very eccentric, and 
the following letter which I have, written when he was nine- 
teen, shows that he was even then quite peculiar. 



tyis ancestors 



J 43 



i HONOURED FRIENDS BROTHERS AND 
SISTER MY UNWORTHY AND DUTIFTUL 
RESPECTS TO YOU. 

2 It is with the Greatest Pleasure that I Set Down to 
Let you know that I am in A good State of health at 
present as Can be Expected 

3 It was with Great pleasure as well as unexpected that I 
Received your Letters by the hand of Mr. Johnson on 
February the i Being very glad to hear from you once 
more 

4 Mr. Johnson Could not wait for a letter & was not A 
going to return This way So I Can not Answer you by 
Him but I Expect to send by another MAN 

5 I have Lived in this town Almost 7 years & neither 
My Father nor Mother Brother nor Sister has taken 
Pains to Come & See me but I Should be happy To 
wait on you Here. 

6 If you go to the Onion river you Will Come this way 
& you must inquire & Call & See how poor people Live. 

7 My great Distance & long absence from you tho' I have 
not wanted for good Company makes me very solicitous 
Concerning your welfare Natural affection inclines me 
Strongly to have you in Remembrance 

8 For the invitation of Comeing to See you I give you 
thank I Shall as quick as I am able but you no the de- 
struction of poor is their poverty & the destruction of 
the damned is their deviltry Amen 

Selah 

9 I am verry much Obliged to you for the Letter you 
Sent me And I hope this Will be A Greeable return 
To All friends 



CHAUN- 

CEY 

BENTON 

1770 



BENTON 

1770 



144 Samuel £>iaUe Benton 

chaun- 10 I am Afraid of wearying your patience So I conclude 
CEY by wishing you to write to me & Wishing God's bless- 

ing Rest on you Forever 

1 1 So I remain your unworthy & Aflicted friend Chancy 
Benton Chancy Benton 

12 CHANCY Cornwall Feby 

BENTON th 9 th 1791 " 

13 to 
SILAS GRIDLEY 

& ELISABETH & 

REYNOLD 

BENTON. 



This letter is divided into numbered spaces as printed 
above, and the following is a facsimile of his signature to the 
letter. 



C^J^Z^ 



I think he and his wife were both members of the Second 
Church in Hartford. 



Mary Benton 

1772-1841 



Mary Benton 
1772-1841 



MARY, born September 18, 1772, married Samuel 
Kingsbury at Alstead, New Hampshire, June 3, 
1789. They were married by a justice of the peace, 
there being then no minister in Alstead. The record is — "Al- 
stead June 3. 1789 The Bands of Matrimony solemnized be- 
tween Sam el Kingsbery of Alstead & Mary Benton of Rock- 
ingham state of Vermont per Nath el Sartel Prentice Justice 
peace." She died at Amherst, Massachusetts, June 19, 1841. 
Samuel Kingsbury, her husband, was born at Tolland, Con- 
necticut, February 2, 1763, and died at Amherst, September 
27, 1 85 1. They are both buried in Amherst, and the inscrip- 
tion upon the tombstone is "Deacon Samuel Kingsbury and 
wife." Samuel Kingsbury was the youngest child of Nathaniel 
Kingsbury and Sarah (Chapman) Kingsbury. His father was 
the son of Nathaniel and Hannah Kingsbury of Coventry, 
Connecticut, and was born in Coventry, September 8, 171 1. 
He settled in Tolland about the time of his marriage, March 
16, 1737, on land given to him by his father-in-law, Captain 
Samuel Chapman, who settled in Tolland about the year 1725. 
Samuel Kingsbury had three sisters and two brothers, one of 
whom, Jabez, lived on the farm in Tolland until his death in 
1 844, when it passed to his descendants, who, I am informed, 
still continue to live upon it. Jabez was for many years 
deacon of the Congregational Church in Tolland, as was his 
father, Nathaniel, before him. (Early History of 'Tolland, p. 65.) 

The record of the family of Samuel and Mary (Benton) 
Kingsbury in their family Bible, which I have, is as follows: — 

"Samuel Kingsbery was born at Tolland in Connecticut 
the 2 of Febbruary 1763. Mary Benton was born in Har- 
winton Connecticut the 18th of September 1772. Samuel 
Kingsbery Removed to Alstead Newhampshire the 23 of 
April 1784 & was married to mary Benton the 3 of June 
1789. Samuel Kingsbery Removed to Langdon the 12 of 



1772 



i4» Samuel £>lafie Benton 

mary January 1795 & Removed back to Alstead the 1st of May 
benton 1802. Samuel Kingsbery Removed to Barnardstone 28th of 
March 181 1. Samuel Kingsbery Removed to Gill the 9th 
of November 18 12. Samuel Kingsbery Removed to Green- 
field monday 6 of April 181 8. Sam 1 Kingsbery Removed to 
Shutesburv Wednesday 28 of April 18 19. Sam 1 Kingsbery 
removed to Amherst thursday 1 8th of Aprill 1822 Colonel 
Dickinson's house East Street. Sam 1 Kingsbery removed 
Mis Dickinsons House west Street 19 of April 1824, mon- 
day 1 1 of April 1826. S Kingsbery Removed into the Cole- 
man house. 12 of April 1832, S. Kingsbery Removed into 
the Parsons house. April 12 1834, S K Removed in to 
the house I Bought of Boltwood." 

Tf Births. 

Hannah Kingsbery born the 17th of March 1790, at Al- 
stead. 

Betsy Kingsbery born the 14th of August 1 791, at Alstead. 

Candace Kingsbery born the 31st of January 1794, at Al- 
stead. 

Nataniel Kingsbery born the 9th of April 1796, at Lang- 
don. 

Samuel Kingsbery born the 24th of May 1798, at Lang- 
don. 

Enoch Kingsbery born the 21st of April 1800, at Langdon. 

Ira Kingsbery born the 20th of September 1 802, at Alstead. 

Mary Kingsbery born the 13th of April 1 804, at Alstead. 

Benjamin Kingsbery born the 28th of May 1806, at Alstead. 

Carroline Kingsbery born the nth Febbruary 1808, at 
Alstead. 

Lyman Kingsbery born the 26th of November, 1 8 10, at Al- 
stead. 

Anna Maria Kingsbery born 4th of May 1813, at Gill. 

Tf Deaths. 

Ira Kingsbery dyed the 17th of May 1803. 
Benjamin Kingsbery died the 2d of June 1806. 
Carroline Kingsbery dyed the 12th of April 18 10. 
Candace Miller K. dyed July 3d 1840. 



Itna ancestors > 4 > 



Eunice Kingsbury dyed July 22 1840. %/u 

Mary B. Kingsbury dyed June 19th 1841. BEM 

Betsy K. Gilberi dyed July 3 1 sr, 1841. l 21L 

NATHANIEL Kjnoshury dyed July 12 1843 at Prairyvill 

Wisconsin. 

Samuel Kingsbury dyed Sept.. 27th 1851. 
Ann M. Merrill died Nov. 10th 1855. 

Mary KlNGSBURY died Nov 8th 1856. 

Samuel Kingsbury died March 5th 1866. 
Eno< h Kingsbury died Oct 26th 1868. 
Hannah Kingsbury died Sept 5th 1871. 

Lyman KlNGSBURY died Dec 4th 1874. 

All of the foregoing record is in the handwriting of Deacon 
Kingsbury down to the record ofthe death ofCandace Miller, 
July 3, 1840. It will be observed that he uniformly spelled 
the name Kings^ry, and when the record is taken up in 
the handwriting of others it is spelled Kings^tfry. Eunice 
Kingsbury, who died July 22, 1840, was evidently a grand 
child. The record taken together shows the births and deaths 
ofthe children of Samuel and Mary (Benton) Kingsbury as 
follows: — 

Hannah, born March 17, 1790, at Alstead; died Septem- 
ber 5, 1 871 . 
Betsey, born August 14, 1 79 1 , at Alstead; died July 31, 

1841. 
Can DACE, born January 3 1 , 1794, at Alstead; died July 3, 

1840. 
Nathaniel, born April 9, 1796, at Langdon; died July 12, 

Samuel, born May 24, 1798, at Langdon; died March 5, 1 866. 
Enoch, born April 21, i8oo,at Langdon; died October 16 

1868. 
Ira, born September 20, 1 802, at Alstead; died May 17, 1 803. 
Mary, born April 13, 1804, at Alstead; died November 8, 

1856. 
Benjamin, born May 28, 1 806, at Alstead; died June 2, 1 806. 
Caroline, born February 1 I, 1808, at Alstead; died April 

12, 1810. 



iso Samuel £>laDe Benton 

mary Lyman, born November 26, 18 10, at Alstead; died Decem- 
benton ber 4, 1874. 
IJJ^ Anna Maria, born May 4, 18 13, at Gill; died November 

10, 1855. 

Samuel and Mary (Benton) Kingsbury were both strict 
members of the Congregational Church, and he was for many 
years a deacon in that church, and was known as "Deacon 
Kingsbury." His son Enoch fitted for college at Amherst 
Academy, entered Amherst College in 1823, and graduated 
in 1827. He then became a Presbyterian minister, and about 
1832 went to Danvers, Illinois, as a home missionary. Mary 
joined the FirstChurchin Amherst, May, 1827. Betsey joined 
the same church in September, 1827. Hannah joined the same 
church July 1, 1838. 

Lucius M. Boltwood of Grand Rapids, Michigan, who 
lived for many years in Amherst, remembers " Deacon Kings- 
bury " and his wife and family. He writes me: "The Kings- 
burys were very excellent godly people. Deacon Kingsbury 
was an ' old theology man,' and had no patience with new mea- 
sures, or ' Taylorism.' They were all very plain people. There 
was a streak of oddity in the family, in which the father and 
mother and daughter Mary certainly shared. Deacon Kings- 
bury was afraid of the theological soundness of Prof. E. A. 
Park, then of Amherst College, who resided while at Amherst 
just across the street from him, with my grandmother, Mrs. 
Deborah Shepard. Professor Park's name on one occasion be- 
ing mentioned in his presence, Deacon Kingsbury exclaimed, 
'Oh, he is very unsound.' 'How so?' he was asked. 'Why,' 
said Deacon Kingsbury, ' he believes that man is a moral agent.' 
'Well, don't you believe so?' asked his friend. 'No, indeed,' 
replied the good deacon, 'I believe that he is an immoral 
agent ! ' 

"An aunt of mine said to Mary Kingsbury when calling 
on her on one Monday morning, 'Your father did not get 
out to church yesterday afternoon.' 'Get out, — he would 
have got out yesterday morning if he had been nearer the 
door (he sat then just under the pulpit); he doesn't want to 
hear any more of that dum Taylorism!' was Miss Kings- 
bury's reply." 



tyis 2tnce0tors 151 

Taylorism was a phase of New England Calvinism, which mary 
derived its name from Dr. Taylor of New Haven, and was benton 
a modification of the earlier New England Calvinism. Dr. 12^L> 
Taylor and his party insisted upon the real freedom of the 
will and a natural ability of moral choice, and made a dis- 
tinction between depravity as a tendency to sin and sin itself. 
They claimed that sin was a voluntary choice of evil. In short, 
they insisted that man was a moral agent, and the differ- 
ence between Taylorism and Tylerism, as the other view of 
the question was termed, was aptly stated by Deacon Kings- 
bury, when he said he did not believe that man was a moral 
agent, but that he was an immoral agent. A full discussion of 
this subject will be found in 'The Catastrophe of the Presby- 
terian Church in 1837, by Zebulon Crocker (New Haven, 

1838). 

The Kingsburys were all their lives in quite limited cir- 
cumstances. He owned a small farm in Alstead, and appears 
to have owned their home in the various places where they 
lived, and he had a small amount of real estate when he died 
at Amherst. Their descendants are now very widely scattered, 
living in many States in the Union. The will of Deacon Kings- 
bury, written by him when he was eighty-two, is a model of 
simplicity. It is as follows: — 

HAVI N G arived at an age more than is common, & knowin 
that infirmaties are increasing upon me, I think my mind 
is as clear as can be expected I knowing that soon I must 
leave this world think proper to write this as my last will & 
testament Viz: I give my sperit into the hand of him who 
gave it my body t6 buryed in a very plain & simple man- 
ner & my onest debts to be paid which are not many I think 
that lower lot of mine if sold for wht it is worth will more 
than pay them the house & the land where I live would giv 
to Hannah & Mary who have taken kind care of me & what 
remains of the land & other things after paying the debts I 
would have equally devided among children that are liveing 
& the heirs of them that are dead which will be but a little 
& further I do appoint Hannah as my Administratrix to all 
matters as shall best for the whole. In witness whereunto I 



I 5 2 



Samuel S>laDe Benton 



mary have hereunto set my hand & seal the 12 day Aoril in the 

benton year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty five. 

1772 in presence of Samuel Kingsbury (Seal) 

David Parsons 

William B. Reed 

Edwin Douglass 

Mary (Benton) Kingsbury was a large strong woman who 
bore twelve children within less than twenty-four years. 
Family letters show that she endured much privation and 
hard labor, but that she was brave and cheerful. She was 
plain and peculiar in speech, but hospitable and helpful and 
a most faithful and excellent wife and mother. 

This is a facsimile of the signature of Mary (Benton) 
Kingsbury to a letter to her sister Elizabeth Gridley in 1808, 
which I now have. 

Her husband, though in early life a farmer, was for many 
years a cooper and carriage-maker. 



Samuel Slade Benton 

1777-1857 



Samuel Slade Benton 

1777-1857 



SAMUEL SLADE BENTON was the youngest child 
of Jacob Benton, Jr., and Hannah Slade Benton. I 
have not found any official record of the place and date 
of his birth, but the record in his family Bible is that he was 
born on April 22, 1777, at Harwinton, Connecticut, and the 
Harwinton Church records show that he was baptized in Oc- 
tober, 1777. His first name was doubtless for his great-grand- 
father, Samuel, and the middle name for his mother's family. 
He had four brothers, Phinehas, Jacob, Reynold, and Chaun- 
cey, and four sisters, Elizabeth, Mary, Mabel, and Honnor, 
the last of whom died in infancy. 

His father was born at Hartford, Connecticut, January 8, 
1729. His grandfather, Jacob Benton, was one of the first 
settlers of Harwinton. His great-grandfather, Samuel Benton, 
Sr., of Hartford, was one of the original proprietors of Har- 
winton, and a son of Andrew Benton, who was one of the first 
settlers of Milford, Connecticut, in 1639. The first official 
record I have found referring to my grandfather is in the town 
record of Alstead, New Hampshire, March 26, 1783, where 
he is named as one of the children of Jacob and Hannah 
Benton in the "warning out" notice to them and their chil- 
dren, and he went to Rockingham with his father sometime 
between that time and March, 1786, probably as early as 
1785. In a letter from his father to his sister Elizabeth, 
March 6, 1787, it is mentioned that "Samuel has bin sick," 
etc. Another letter, from Jacob Benton to his daughter, Mrs. 
Elizabeth Gridley, February 9, 1789, refers to Samuel as hav- 
ing been quite sick and "unfit to go to school for more than a 
month." He was then about twelve, and I believe from what 
he told me about how little schooling he had and what I have 
learned of the straitened circumstances of his parents at that 
time, that he was soon put to work, and worked in Walpole, 
New Hampshire, where his elder brother Jacob lived between 



■ 5 6 



Samuel £>laoe Benton 



SAMUEL 

SLADE 

BENTON 

1777 



1792 and 1795 or later, and in Langdon, New Hampshire, 
where the record of his marriage, January 10, 1 802, states he 
then lived. 

In a letter which I now have, dated October 5, 1801, his 
father writes: "Jacob and Samuel went up the River about 
90 miles and bought each of them farms and Jacob came 
home in July, but stayed but a day or two. Samuel came home 
last week but stayed but one night." This shows that my 
grandfather first went to Waterford as early as the spring of 
1 801. November 10, 1 801, he bought fifty acres of land (be- 
ing one half of Lot 8, Third Range) in the town of Water- 
ford, Vermont, for two hundred dollars. The following copy 
of the original plan of the allotment of Waterford, still existing, 
shows that the lot of which he bought one half was in the back 
part of the town. 1 1 was high, wooded land requiring much labor 
to clear and subdue for cultivation. On this lot he built a log 
house, to which in the winter of 1802, when he was twenty- 
four years old, he brought his young wife, Esther Prouty, then 
nineteen years old. They were married at Charlestown, New 
Hampshire, February 7, 1802. The town record in Charles- 
town gives date of publishing of intention of marriage as Jan- 
uary 10, 1802, and the town history by Saunderson the date 
of marriage as January 25, 1802; but February 7, 1802, is the 
date in Samuel Slade Benton's family Bible, and is, I believe, 
the correct date. The town record spells the name "Easter," 
and Samuel S. Benton is stated to be "of Langdon." 

Waterford was then a frontier settlement, with a popula- 
tion of between five and six hundred. It was incorporated 
November 8, 1780, as Littleton, and November 9, 1797, its 
name was changed to Waterford. The first settlement in the 
town was about 1783 or 1784. It was not organized as a town 
until May 6, 1793, and first sent a representative to the As- 
sembly in 1795. About 1797 or a little later a Congregational 
Church was there organized and established. In 1791, it had 
sixty-three inhabitants, in 1 800 five hundred and sixty-five, 
in 1 8 10 twelve hundred and eighty-nine, and it afterwards 
became, as its native poet wrote: — 
A very fine place 
Adorned with majesty and grace 






Samuel g>latie Identon 



l S7 



Upon the reproduction shown below of the Original Plan of Allot- samuel 
ment of the town of Waterford, Vermont, one half of lot No. 8 slade 

BENTON 

1777 



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in the 'Third Range, containing fifty acres, was bought by Samuel 
Slade Benton in 1 801 , and the other half bought by him in 1 8 14. 



158 Samuel ^iatie Benton 



BENTON 
1777 



samuel Situated under Rabbit Hi//, 

slade With a tavern, store, and clover mill.* 

The conditions of life when my grandfather settled in 
Waterford were very primitive. The people were all poor, and 
he doubtless was as poor as any, having practically nothing 
after he had paid for the fifty acres of wild land on which he 
settled. 

When I was a bov, the year before he died, he was for some 
weeks at my father's house in Bradford, Vermont, and he 
told me something of his early circumstances. The log house 
which he built in 1801 had but one room, and when his first 
child was born, in November, 1802, he said he smoothed oft* 
the rough logs with his axe in one corner, and hung up 
blankets about that corner to shield his wife and the baby 
from the cold. At first he had no horse or oxen, but hired 
the use of an ox-team by laboring for a neighbor, and when 
he and one of his neighbors had each raised a young ox they 
put them together and did their work. My grandmother told 
me they even had no cow, and she hired the use of one from 
a neighbor and paid by spinning yarn. She used herself to go 
to the pasture and milk the cow, climbing the log fences of 
the clearings for that purpose. 

My grandparents lived in Waterford until 18 29, and twelve 
children were born to them there. One of these died in infancy, 
and the other eleven all grew up and married. My grand- 
parents lived in the log house until about 1 806 or 1 807, their 
oldest daughter, Hannah, being born in it August 13, 1805. 
My grandfather then built a story-and-a-half frame house, in 
which he lived until 18 29, when he removed to St. Johnsbury, 
Vermont, and sold his farm in Waterford to his oldest son, 
Reuben, who remodelled the house about 1834. All my grand- 
parents' children, except Reuben and Hannah, the eldest son 
and daughter, were born in this house. In 1856, the farm 
which he cleared and occupied, and which was then and is 
nowknown as the " Benton Farm," was purchased by Stephen 
Richardson, who about 1866 removed the house a short dis- 
tance from its original location, remodelled it again and made 
* A clover mill was a mill where clover seed was taken from the red clover. This 
was a profitable industry in some Vermont towns at one time. 



1777 



Samuel g>tade Idtnton >s9 

it a two-story white house with green blinds, in which his wi- iauuel 
dow now lives (1900). slade 

May 27, 1 8 14, my grandfather purchased for five hundred 
dollars the remaining half of the lot, half of which he had 
purchased in 1801 for two hundred dollars. In the meantime, 
April 18, 1 8 10, he had purchased thirty acres of Lot 13 in 
the second Range, adjoining the one half of Lot 8 which he 
first purchased. For this he paid one hundred and fifty dol- 
lars. He was not inclined to make this purchase when the 
land was offered, as he had no money and would not run in 
debt; but my grandmother urged him to buy it, produced a 
little store of money which she had saved, "turned in," as 
the phrase at that time was, her best feather bed and blankets, 
all of which she had herself made, carding and spinning the 
wool and weaving the blankets, and a quantity of yarn which 
she had also spun. With these they made up the required 
amount and bought the thirty acres. 

In May, 18 14, when my grandfather bought the other 
half of Lot 8, he sold this thirty acres, half of Lot 13, for 
two hundred and twenty-five dollars, and this helped him pay 
the five hundred dollars for the other half of the original lot. 
April 21, 1821, he bought forty acres out of Lot No. 9 in 
the third Range for two hundred and seventy-five dollars. 
August 2, 1822, he bought Lot 13 in the fourth Range, con- 
taining one hundred acres, and adjoining his home lot in the 
third Range, for two hundred and seventy-five dollars, thus 
making his home farm consist of two hundred acres at a 
cost for the land of nine hundred and seventy-five dollars. 

November 28, 1833, after he had removed to St. Johns- 
bury, he sold Lot 8 with the buildings to his son Rtubtn 
for one thousand dollars, and December 2, 1 836, he sold Lot 
13 to Reuben for four hundred dollars, thus making four- 
teen hundred dollars for the two hundred acres and buildings. 

December 18, 1833, ne bought the remaining sixty acres 
of Lot 9 in the third Range, and all of Lot 10 in the third 
Range, making one hundred and sixty acres, for seven hun- 
dred dollars. This gave him all of Lots 9 and 10 in the third 
Range, amounting to two hundred acres. April 1 1, 1840, he 
sold these two hundred acres for fifteen hundred dollars, to 



i6o 



Samuel StaDe Benton 



BENTON 

1777 



samuel Willard Stoddard, who had married his eldest daughter, Han- 
slade nah. He does not appear ever to have made a mortgage upon 
any real estate. 

The only means of communication between Waterford 
and Boston or Portland, Maine, at that time was by teams, 
and my grandfather, as early as 1 8 1 2, I think, began to drive 
in winter either down the Connecticut River to Boston, or 
through the White Mountain Notch to Portland, carrying 
produce and bringing back supplies for the country traders. 
This was not uniformly profitable, as appears by a letter 
from his brother Jacob in 18 17, in which he says: "Samuel 
has lost nothing of his propensity for making winter voyages. 
He has pursued it for two years much to his disadvantage. 
But like an unlucky gamester, with loss upon loss pursues 
the game to retrieve former losses." He drove his own four- 
horse team on these expeditions for many years, and thus 
sought to add to his scanty income from his farm. It was 
not easy work, and was attended with much privation. He 
once told me that he had taken to Boston a quantity of pork 
raised on the farm, and received his pay for it in silver dollars 
amounting, I think, to about fifty or sixty dollars, which he 
intended to apply to a payment for land which he had bought. 
He said that in order to be sure he should not lose this 
money, or have it stolen, he put it in the bottom of a large 
box of salt, which he was carrying with other supplies from 
Boston to Waterford. On the last day of the trip, when he 
expected to reach home in the early evening, he met a severe 
snow-storm, which had so blocked the roads that finally he 
found it impossible to get through and had to leave his sled 
with its load, unhitch his horses and make his way through 
the drifts with them. He then remembered that he had left 
his bag of money. He told me that he thought best not to 
mention this to his wife. He said that he thought nobody 
knew where the money was, and that it would be as difficult 
for anybody to get at it during the night as it had been for 
him to get away from it, and he therefore went to bed and 
slept, and the next morning he returned, digging his way 
through the snow, and found his load and money untouched. 
In 1822, my grandfather's oldest brother, Jacob, who went 



Samuel £>laDe Benton 1 * « 

to Waterford with him in 1801, and never married, but lived samuel 
most of the time thereafter in Waterford, went to St. Johns- slade 
bury, and bought what was then known as the " Lord Farm," BENT0N 
on the Passumpsic River. This place was afterwards known w^_/ 
as "Benton's Meadows," and is so spoken of in Hayward's 
Gazetteer of Vermont, published in 1 849. Jacob Benton lived 
on this farm until his death in 1828, when my grandfather 
was appointed administrator of his estate, and in 1829 he 
purchased the interests of the other heirs in the farm and 
moved to St. Johnsbury with his family to live. 

At that time my grandfather had eleven children, the old- 
est of whom, Reuben Clark, was twenty-seven years old and 
married, and I think also lived in St. Johnsbury; Hannah, 
who was twenty-four and married to Willard Stoddard, and 
lived in Waterford; Samuel, who was twenty-two, and pre- 
paring for college; Esther, who was twenty-one, and Mary, 
twenty, who were living at home but attending the Essex 
County Grammar School and teaching a portion of the time; 
Jacob, who was eighteen ; Elizabeth, sixteen ; Josiah, thirteen ; 
Susan, eleven; William, six; and Charles, four years of age, 
all of whom were at home and went with their father to St. 
Johnsbury. 

The other heirs of his brother Jacob were his brother 
Chauncey and his sister Mabel Worster, and the children 
of his sister Elizabeth Gridley, his sister Mary Kingsbury, 
and his brother Reynold. They conveyed their shares in the 
land to him in the years 1829, 1831, for four hundred dol- 
lars a share, making two thousand dollars in all. At that time 
he paid his sister Mary, and I think his brother .Chauncey, 
and probably gave his notes, or was trusted without notes by 
the other heirs. 

He had not then sold any of his real estate in Waterford. 
April 28, 1 832, he sold ninety acres of the Jacob Benton farm, 
that is, of "Benton's Meadows," on both sides of the Pas- 
sumpsic River, to his son Reuben for a thousand dollars. But 
there was almost an absolute lack of ready money in that 
part of the country at that time, and he apparently had great 
difficulty in meeting the remaining payments. In March, 
1833, he wrote to his nephew, Joel Gridley, that he was hav- 



i6i 



Samuel grtatie Benton 



samuel ing hard work to pay, as Reuben could not pay him fast 

slade enough to meet the calls of the heirs, and said that he had 

benton tr j e( j to se }j some f his land but could not. Some of the pay- 

H£L ments were apparently delayed until nearly 1 840, but finally 

he succeeded in paying all the heirs in full. 

He lived on this farm in St. Johnsbury until July, 1841, 
when he sold the farm for five thousand dollars, then con- 
sidered a very large price, to the Messrs. Fairbanks, and they 
afterwards erected upon it their scale factory. October 22, in 
the same year, he bought a large farm on the river road in the 
south part of Lancaster, New Hampshire, of one Lucas, and 
went to Lancaster to reside, in October, 1842. I presume he 
went to Lancaster because his son Jacob, who was a lawyer, 
then lived there. I have heard of no other reason why he 
selected that place. In 1845, ^ e Dou g nt a small farm on the 
river road about half a mile north of the South Newbury rail- 
road station in Newbury, Vermont, of his son-in-law, Elisha 
Kinney, for fourteen hundred dollars. In 1847, he sold the 
Lancaster farm and moved to the Newbury place, where he 
lived until his death, December 15, 1857. 

He appears to have acquired property in Waterford, slowly 
but surely. He was first taxed there in 1803 for three cattle; 
in 1804 for four cattle and one sheep, and in 1806 he was 
taxed for a horse and for five cattle and two acres of improved 
land. Land was then subject to local taxation only when im- 
proved so far as to be cultivated. He was first taxed for two 
oxen in 1808, and in 18 10 he was taxed for two oxen, six 
cattle, one horse, and a watch, and seven acres of improved 
land. In 1812 he was taxed for two horses, eight cattle, and 
ten acres of improved land; in 1 821, for two oxen, twelve cat- 
tle, two horses, and sixty acres of improved land; in 1 824, for 
four oxen, fourteen cattle, two horses, and sixty acres of im- 
proved land, and in 1827, for two oxen, twenty-three cattle, 
two horses, twenty-eight sheep, and sixty-five acres of im- 
proved land. While he lived in Waterford he does not appear 
to have taken any particular interest in town affairs, although 
he served as grand juryman, surveyor of highways, collector 
of taxes, trustee of schools, and filled other minor offices in 
the town in the years 1808, 1809, 18 14, 1815, 18 17, 1820, 



Samuel £>laDe Benton 



163 



1822, 1827, and 1829. He held no office in St. Johnsbury, samuel 
Lancaster, or Newbury. slade 

In 1842 he was taxed in Lancaster, New Hampshire, for BENTON 
two hundred and nine acres of land, twenty-eight hundred JJ^L 
dollars; two horses, seventy dollars; two oxen, forty -two dol- 
lars; eight cows, one hundred and twenty-four dollars; five 
head of other cattle, fifty dollars; twenty-six sheep, forty 
dollars; and in 1847 ne was taxed on his homestead of two 
hundred and eighteen acres, twenty -eight hundred dollars; 
eighteen cattle, two hundred and twenty-two dollars; forty 
sheep, forty-four dollars; and a carriage, one hundred and 
twenty dollars. I remember this carriage. It was an old-fash- 
ioned thorough-brace chaise, quite expensive for that part of 
the country, and an object of admiration to me when, as a 
child, I visited my grandfather and grandmother at Newbury, 
I should say in 1848. I remember being told by my grand- 
mother if I would be a good boy grandfather would take me 
to ride in the chaise. In Newbury he was first taxed in 1 847 for 
forty acres of land and buildings at twelve hundred dollars, and 
in 1 856 he was assessed for the same property with the addi- 
tion of nine hundred and six dollars for personal property. In 
1 8 56 he sold the Newbury farm to his youngest son, Charles E., 
who lived with him, for two thousand dollars, but continued 
to reside with his son on the place until his death in 1857. 

My grandfather left no will, and his sons, Jacob and 
Charles, were appointed administrators, and administered 
the personal estate, which amounted by appraisal to six thou- 
sand and twelve dollars and fifty-nine cents. He had before 
his death made "advancements" to his children in varying 
amounts. 

It appears by the records of the First Congregational 
Church of St. Johnsbury, Vermont, that my grandfather 
was a member of it December 1 , 1 8 1 6. Whether he was then 
admitted to membership by profession, or was previously a 
member of some other church, I have not been able to ascer- 
tain. It was about six miles from his place to the Waterford 
meeting-house, and only three miles to St. Johnsbury. This 
probably caused him to join the church there, and I think 
he was admitted to it by profession. The records of this 



164 



Samuel £>laDe Benton 



samuel church show that Reuben, Samuel, Mary, Jacob, Hannah, 
slade Esther, Elizabeth, and Josiah Benton, "children of brother 
Benton Samuel S. Benton of Waterford," "received baptism" July 
v— ,— ' 23, 1 8 17, and that his daughter Susan, named in the record 
as " Susanna Benton," was baptized July 3 1 , 1 8 1 8 . As in July, 
1 8 1 7, Reuben was fourteen years old, and Hannah was twelve, 
Samuel ten, Esther nine, Mary eight, Jacob three, and Josiah 
Henry less than one year old, I infer that their father was not 
a member of any church when they were born, but that he was 
first admitted to church membership in December, 1 8 16, and 
brought all his children for baptism in the following July. His 
daughter Susan was born April 1, 181 8, and baptized July 
31, 1 8 1 8. January 15, 1 828, he was dismissed from the First 
Church by letter, and July 8, 1832, he was admitted to the 
North Church in St. Johnsbury. When he moved to Lancas- 
ter in 1842, he did not unite with the church there, and a list 
of the members now published by the North Church of St. 
Johnsbury states that he was "excommunicated" from that 
church, February 27, 1846. An examination of the church 
records shows the following record: — 

"Noted : That S. S. Benton, Jacob Benton, and Thomas 
MacKnight, having after repeated admonitions neglected to 
unite with the churches within whose limits they reside, and 
having given no satisfactory reason for the neglect, be sus- 
pended from the privileges of church fellowship, and that 
unless some reason by them be presented before the first of 
Sept. next why the church should act otherwise, then this sus- 
pension shall at that time pass into final excommunication. 
Noted: That the pastor write to these brethren accordingly." 
The records show that in those days the same action was 
taken in many cases where members did not unite with other 
churches after they had left the town. But the present clerk of 
the North Church writes me that if the same action was taken 
at the present time, the North Church would have to excom- 
municate a good many of its absent members. From what I 
have learned about his matters in Lancaster, I conclude that 
soon after my grandfather purchased the large farm there he 
decided it would be better to remove to a smaller place else- 
where as soon as he could sell the Lancaster farm, and for 



Samuel £>ia&e Benton i6 5 

that reason probably did not unite with the church there, samuel 
From what I know of him I am inclined to think the "re- slade 
peated admonitions" to him to unite with the church in Lan- BENT0N 

.... 1777 

caster were well calculated to prevent his doing so. His dis- _ ,_> 
position was to do what he thought best without admonition 
from anybody. The result of this "excommunication" was 
to deprive two excellent men of church fellowship for no moral 
offence, which was a loss to them and certainly no gain to the 
church. I regard the publication by the North Church now of 
the fact that my grandfather and my uncle Jacob were "ex- 
communicated," with no statement of the reason, as unjust 
to their memory and to their family, as it is also unjust in all 
other cases of excommunication for like cause. 

All my grandparents' eleven children, except Reuben and 
William Chauncey, became active members of the Congrega- 
tional Church, and two of them, Samuel and Josiah, ministers 
in that denomination. But my grandmother was a Baptist, 
being admitted to the Baptist Church in Barnet, an adjoining 
town to Waterford, by baptism upon its organization, Sep- 
tember 24, 1 8 1 1 . But after her husband became a member of 
the Congregational Church in St. Johnsbury, in 18 16, and 
their children were there baptized, she attended that church 
with them. For this reason she was in 1820 "excluded" from 
membership in the Baptist Church. The church record of the 
proceeding is substantially as follows: — 

Barnet, Vermont, April 26, 1820. 

MEETING at the Church in accordance with a previous 
appointment and after solom prayor to the throne of 
grace for divine instruction an enquiry was made whether 
thare was any that had any thing special to communicate for 
the church to attend to. Sister Hannah Badger said she had a 
trial with sister Esther Benton and had first visited her but not 
getting satisfied she had requested brother John Clark to gow 
with her and take the second step which he did. They had not 
got convinced that she was innocent, or their difficulty with her 
in any way removed and they informed her that they would 
bring the matter before the church and requested her to be 
present, therefore they communicated their trial to the church. 



i66 



Samuel Platte Benton 



SAMUEL 

SLADE 

BENTON 

1777 



Sister Benton had told one that her husband opposed her 
meeting with the Baptist brethren with threats, and also of- 
fered to give her a cow if she would stay away, but she had 
told another that he did not oppose her attendance. 

When reminded of these inconsistent statements she ac- 
knowledged the variance but appeared not to give sufficient 
evidence to them that in So doing she was sensible she was 
guilty of doing anything very wrong but endeavored to smooth 
over this known falsehood in a manner which led them to 
believe she thought God did not take notice of such con- 
duct, and feeling that the cause was very much wounded, and 
not obtaining any satisfactory evidence that she was exercised 
with repentance of a Godly sort we felt it our duty to tell it 
to the church. 

We also attended another trial which sister Badger had 
with sister Benton for breaking covenant with her brethren 
in communing with the unbaptised Congregational brethren 
contrary to her covenant obligation to the grief of her breth- 
ren. To this accusation she replied she had not done wrong 
and she intended to continue the association with the Congre- 
gationalists whenever she had opportunity to do so. She said 
that if any one was baptised by sprinkling and thought such a 
method right it made it right. She thought the Baptist church 
and the Congregational church both right, and since she could 
enjoy privileges with the Congregational church more con- 
veniently she thought she ought and should feel justified in 
doing so. 

Dear brethren we now submit the foregoing trial we have 
with sister Benton to you to dispose of according to gospel 
rule and pray the Lord Jesus to guide your mind by his spirit. 
Sister Benton not being present a committee was appointed 
to notify her of the time and place for the next meeting, and 
then the meeting was adjourned to May 30, 1820. 

Barnet, Vt. y May 30, 1820. 

THE committee of notification advised the meeting that 
sister Benton said she had a young babe* and could not 
attend. The brethren wished to use her as well as they ought 
* Her son William was born April 19, 1820. 




Samuel Slade Benton 
1852 



Samuel SlaDe Benton 



167 



to under the circumstances by giving her an opportunity to samuel 
be heard, therefore the meeting was adjourned to June 14, slade 
1820, and notice sent sister Benton of the adjournment. 



BENTON 

1777 



Barnet, Vermont, June 14, 1820. 

AT the meeting of the Church in accordance with the pre- 
> vious adjournment sister Benton was not present. She 
sent word that she did not wish to attend and hoped there 
would be no more adjournments on her account. It was de- 
clared manifest that she was not of us for she had gone out 
from among us and it was voted to exclude her from mem- 
bership. 

She continued to attend the Congregational Church, but 
did not join it, and the records of the Baptist Church in Bar- 
net show that she was "restored to membership" July 20, 
1 83 1 . The record states no reason for the restoration, and I 
know of none except that the rule against Baptists worship- 
ping with Congregationalists had probably been abandoned. 

My grandfather was about six feet in height, strong and 
sturdy in body, with a round, solid head and keen gray eyes. 
He was rather phlegmatic, not easily moved, deliberate and 
determined in all his ways and methods. He loved dogs, 
horses, the fields and the open air, and though somewhat in- 
clined to be easy-going, was industrious and thrifty. He was 
not a man of many words, but had a keen sense of humor, and 
a dry way of putting things in their true light by a concise, 
caustic sentence. He had sound common sense and excellent 
judgment. He had no illusions but saw things as they were. 
He was dignified, peaceable, well-disposed, a good neighbor 
and a good citizen. His early education was very scanty, not 
beyond the "three R's," reading, writing, and arithmetic. He 
told me he only attended a few terms of district; school when 
a small boy. He liked reading, but few books were to be had 
in Waterford then and there was little time to be spared from 
the toil required to keep a roof over the heads and bread in 
the mouths of his increasing family. He was a constant reader 
of the Bible. In a letter from his wife to his sister, Elizabeth 
Gridley, in 1820, she says: "Your brother Samuel is very 



i68 



Samuel £>IaDe Benton 



SAMUEL 

SLADE 

BENTON 

1777 



much engaged in reading the Bible, and it takes all the time 
that he can spare." But notwithstanding his lack of education 
he spoke and wrote excellent English, and always expressed 
himself concisely and clearly. I have quite a number of his 
letters written before 1820, and more written after that time, 
to his sister Elizabeth and other relatives in Connecticut. 
They are creditable in matter and in style. He was of an ear- 
nest religious temperament, and had an old-fashioned rever- 
ence for sacred things. He seems to have been much attached 
to his eldest sister, Elizabeth, who married Silas Gridley and 
remained in Harwinton,and he kept up a regular correspond- 
ence with her and with her children after her death. His letters 
show a deep interest in religious matters and a constant de- 
sire to lead a Christian life. The opportunities for travel dur- 
ing his lifetime were limited, and while he and his wife appear 
to have occasionally visited Harwinton, Connecticut, Am- 
herst, Massachusetts, Alstead, New Hampshire, and their 
relatives at other places in Vermont and New Hampshire at 
various times, I think he never went farther from home but 
once. In November, 1856, when he was seventy-nine years 
old, he went to Michigan, Chicago, Iowa, and Wisconsin, to 
visit his children. He seems to have enjoyed the trip, though 
he rode all one night and there were then no sleeping-cars. 
He wrote his wife a long account of the journey, saying among 
other things that he had enjoyed "attending meeting" and 
hearing his sons, Samuel and Josiah, preach at Maquoketa, 
Iowa, where his daughter Mary lived; and also speaking with 
affection of "the little granddaughter," who was my sister 
Mary, whom her Aunt Mary had adopted after my mother's 
death. 

He hated secret associations, and was a strong " Anti- 
Mason" at the time when Masonry was a political issue 
and Vermont cast its vote for William Wirt as the " Anti- 
Masonic " candidate for President. In politics he was conser- 
vative, and was a " Henry Clay Whig." He took an interest 
in national affairs, and had, as I remember, in his old age very 
decided political views. 

He was always in excellent health, and was about attending 
to his affairs until shortly before his death, when he was thrown 



Samuel §>iaDe Benton 



169 



BENTON 
1777 



out of his carriage while driving and received an injury which samuel 
probably caused his death at the age of eighty. His remains slade 
were first buried at Newbury, but later, upon the death of 
his wife, who died and was buried at Lower Waterford, the 
remains were removed to Waterford and buried by her side. 

My grandmother, Esther Prouty Benton, was a notable 
woman. She was born at Charlestown, New Hampshire, April 
23, 1782, and was married at the age of nineteen, and she en- 
dured all the toils and privations of a rude frontier life from 
that early age. Her first child, Reuben, was born when she 
was only a little more than twenty-one, and between Novem- 
ber, 1802, and December, 1825, she bore twelve children, 
eleven of whom she brought up to manhood and womanhood. 
She was a strong, handsome woman, straight, resolute, and 
active, with bright black eyes. She was very industrious, eco- 
nomical, and thrifty, but kind-hearted, affectionate, and gen- 
erous. She had practically no education, and cared nothing 
for books. I doubt whether she ever read anything but the 
Bible and the hymn-book. She was always at work, even in 
her old age, and I well remember how she used to complain 
of what seemed to her the indolence and indifference of my 
grandfather, who when an old man would read and smoke 
at his ease without much regard to her complaints. 

She was helpful and hospitable, a most excellent wife, 
mother, and neighbor. Her constant care for her children 
and her grandchildren continued while she lived. She was 
most unselfish and always doing something for others. When 
her children or grandchildren visited her she at once set about 
to see what she could find to give them, and to the last of 
her life was continually sending things to them. She was a 
great manager and a remarkable housekeeper, keeping all in 
the house and about it, in the garden and grounds, in the best 
condition. I remember her saying that the way for farmers to 
get on was always to have something growing, — as she ex- 
pressed it, to " keep putting in seeds." She had sound health 
and a wonderfully clear skin and fine complexion, which she 
retained when she was quite old. She was a woman who con- 
trolled others, and I think the desire of my grandparents' 
children to be educated and get on in life came more from her 



BENTON 

1777 



170 Samuel SlaUe Benton 

samuel than from their father. I doubt if he would have accomplished 
slade what he did without the constant influence of her ceaseless ac- 
tivity and ambition, and yet I think the mental strength and 
capacity of their children came from him more than from her. 
After his death in 1857, she went to live with her eldest 
daughter, Mrs. Hannah Stoddard, at Lower Waterford, Ver- 
mont, where she died March 14, 1 860, at the age of seventy- 
eight. 

Fully to appreciate the character of my grandparents, it is 
necessary to know the conditions in which they lived and 
labored. They were of the early settlers of Northern Ver- 
mont, who were poor in money but rich in courage and in 
strength. These people were strong, sturdy, earnest men and 
women. They were sufficient unto themselves, and by severe 
and constant toil they took from the soil on which they set- 
tled nearly all that was necessary for a plain, simple, health- 
ful life. They had clay for bricks and lime for mortar, and 
the woods gave them logs and lumber, from which they made 
their rude but comfortable dwellings and furniture. From the 
sap of the maple they made delicious sugar, and the hemlock 
gave the bark with which to tan the hides of their cattle into 
excellent leather. From the flax they made durable linen for 
household use and for summer clothing, and from the wool 
of their sheep, warm blankets and excellent " frocking " and 
other clothing for wear in winter. The lye leached from the 
ashes of the clearings made "potash" and "pearl-ash," not 
only for their own necessities, but for sale in the distant mar- 
kets of Portland and Boston, where they obtained salt, almost 
the only necessity of life which Vermont does not produce. 
Wheat, rye, oats, barley, Indian corn, and nearly all other 
cereals of the temperate zone grew on the hillsides and in the 
valleys, while the blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, strawberry, 
and other healthful and delicious fruits grew wild in the woods 
and glades. They raised apples, currants, cherries, plums, pears, 
and other cultivated fruits. Coffee beans made a fair substitute 
for imported coffee, and they even had from the leaves of va- 
rious shrubs a substitute for tea. Tobacco, less fragrant but 
equally as wholesome as that from beyond the sea, was raised 
with care in sheltered places. 



Samuel &IaDe Benton 



171 



BENTON 

1777 



The lakes, rivers, and brooks were filled with bass, pick- samuel 
erel, muskalonge, trout, and other fish, while in the woods slade 
bear, deer, raccoon, partridge, and other game were found in 
abundance. They trapped the otter and the beaver in the 
streams and the fox on the hillside. They had geese, turkeys, 
fowls, and pigeons, while the horses, sheep, and cattle which 
grazed in their pastures and fed on the hay from their mead- 
ows were not excelled elsewhere. They built their own card- 
ing and fulling mills and looms, and their own tanneries. The 
women spun the yarn, wove the cloth, and made the sheets, 
blankets, and garments, and the soap for washing and the 
candles for light, in their own homes. The men tanned the 
leather, and once a year the travelling shoemaker set up his 
bench in the great kitchen with its capacious fireplace, and 
made the boots and shoes for the family. They had cider from 
the apple, and wine from the rhubarb, the elderberry, and the 
wild grape. They needed no butcher or baker, for they baked 
in their brick ovens and had their beef, mutton, and pork from 
their own flocks and herds and yards. 

They put school-houses and meeting-houses on the hill- 
sides, and the teachers taught for small pay and "boarded 
around" by the scholar, while the ministers were paid mainly 
in the produce of the farms. They had none of the appli- 
ances of modern husbandry. The mowing-machine, the horse- 
rake, the reaper, the threshing-machine, the improved plough, 
and the cultivator were unknown. The axe and the crowbar, 
the beetle and the wedge, the sickle and the scythe, the shovel 
and the hoe, the flail and the fan, were the simple imple- 
ments with which they subdued the wilderness, cultivated the 
soil, and gathered its harvest. They had no eight-hour day, 
but labored "from sun to sun." With the exception of the 
Fourth of July, when they assembled to hear the Declaration 
of Independence read, and usually to hear an "oration" by 
the minister, and Thanksgiving, when they worshipped and 
fed on the good things they raised, they had no holidays; 
labor was so constant and unremitting that it became a habit 
of their lives, and their descendants even now, under better 
conditions, often feel that a leisure hour is an offence. They 
were orderly, industrious, frugal, God-fearing, and indepen- 



172 



Samuel £>lafce Benton 



SAMUEL 

SLADE 

BENTON 

1777 



dent people. They owned the land they tilled, and were the 
most perfect democracy in America. My grandparents lived 
this life and sustained its privations, endured its toils, and 
reared their family under its severe conditions. Considering 
the disadvantages of their childhood and the hardships of 
their early years, they seem to me to have been a very remark- 
able couple. I trust this imperfect sketch may give to their de- 
scendants some slight knowledge of their long and useful lives 
and of their many virtues. The accompanying portraits of my 
grandfather and grandmother are from daguerreotypes, taken 
about 1852, when he was seventy-five and she seventy years 
old. They are excellent likenesses of them as I remember them. 
The following letters from those in my possession may tend 
to show something of the character of my grandfather and 
grandmother. 

Mr. Silas Gridley 

Harwinton Connefticut. 

RESPECTED Brother after long absence from you either 
in seeing or hearing I now improve a few fleety moments 
to write a few lines informing you that we are enjoying a com- 
fortable degree of health in our family and likewise that it is 
at this time a general time of health in this vicinity and al- 
though the past season seemed to be overspread with dark- 
ness in cutting short the latter harvest yet through the good- 
ness of God we have reason to hope that the former harvest 
hath yielded a comfortable supply both for man and beast I 
have nothing very entertaining to write but feeling solicitous 
for your welfare I improve this favorable opportunity in writ- 
ing hoping that these lines might meet you & yours enjoying 
health and prosperity 

We have long been expecting to hear from you as we were 
informed by Mr. Hastings that Brother Jacob was a going 
directly to your house when he parted with him and that he 
expected to return back in the course of a month or two and 
knowing that his health was not so good as usual we think 
it somewhat strange that we have not heard from you nor 
him. As Mr. Hastings is now about setting out to go to Con- 
necticut I forward this by him. We should be glad if you 




Esther Prouty Benton 
1852 



Samuel Srtatie Benton 



l 73 



would take the trouble to write to us. So I conclude this by samuel 
subscribing myself Your affedionate Brother f™^ 

I and my wife desire to tender our well wishes and desire to 
be remembered to all enquiring friend if any there should be. 
Waterford April the 27, 1817. 

Watterford the 18 October 1820 

DEAR Brother and Sister I feel under an obligation by 
the ties of nature to write a few lines to you and yours. 
I have not had any certain news about your health and the 
welfare of your family this long time and feel very anxious 
about your health and brothers. I should have wrote before 
this time but I have thought you would write to us and hoped 
if your health would permit you would come up and make us 
a visit. Do come if you can. I feel very anxious to have you 
come once more if you are able and to have brother come 
with you and all your children. You must write to us about 
your health. Brother Jacob is well and our family is well at 
this time. We have 1 1 children 10 living. Our babe is six 
months and his name is Chancy. Brother Jacob reppresents 
the town this year. I have not had any news from any of our 
friends below and am very anxious to hear from them all. 
How precious the time that we have spent together appears 
at this time. I long to have you come and hope you will. 
You must remember me to all our friends and tell them they 
must make us a visit if they can and write. Your brother 
Samuel is very much engaged in reading the Bible and it takes 
all the time that he can spare. I wish Joel and his wife would 
come up and all the rest of your children. I write these lines 
in such a hurry I fear you cannot read. Betsey is very anxious 
to see her Aunt and I trust she may. I remain your affection- 
ate sister and Friend till death 




Silas Elizabeth Grid ley 



174 



Samuel g>ia&e Benton 



SAMUEL 

SLADE 

BENTON 

1777 



The graves of Samuel Slade and Esther (Prouty) Benton 
are marked by simple stones with these inscriptions: — 



Samuel S. Benton Esq. 

born 

at Harwinton, Ct. 

April, 27. 1777. 

DIED 

at Newbury, Vt. 
Dec. 15, 1857. 



Esther P. 

WIFE 

of the late 

Samuel S. Benton, 

born 

at Charlestown N. H. 

April 23. 1782. 

DIED 

at Waterford, Vt. 
March 20. i860. 



They are buried side by side at Lower Waterford, Vermont. 



to 







' ii 4U3mmJ 


1 jjg 

1 


. . IMtSjMri'n 

1 


r 









Children of Samuel Slade Benton 



THE children of Samuel Slade Benton were all born 
at Waterford, Vermont. The two oldest were born 
in the log house built in 1801, and the others in a 
frame house built in 1 806. The accompanying picture is from 
a pencil drawing of this house as it was when he lived in it, 
but without the sheds and other outhouses. 

Their names are as follows: — 

Reuben Clark, born November 28, 1802; died October 
11, 1857, at Rockford, Illinois. 

Hannah Slade, born August 13, 1805; died March 3, 
1893, at Waterford, Vermont. 

Samuel Austin, born May 3, 1807; died November 19, 
1865, at Barnet, Vermont. 

Esther, born July 1 1 , 1 808 ; died June 25, 1 8 8 8, at River 
Falls, Wisconsin. 

Mary, born October 16, 1809; died May 12, 1878, at 
Newbury, Vermont. 

Jacob, born June 13, 181 1; died September 14, 18 12, at 
Waterford, Vermont. 

Elizabeth, born February 1, 18 13; died May 14, 1887, 
at Coventry, Vermont. 

Jacob, born August 19, 18 14; died September 29, 1892, at 
Lancaster, New Hampshire. 

Josiah Henry, born August 8, 18 16. 

Susan Mabel, born April 1, 1818. 

William Chauncey, born April 19, 1820; died April 23, 
1859, at Beloit, Wisconsin. 

Charles Emerson, born December 11, 1825; died June 
11, 1892, at Guildhall, Vermont. 



Reuben Clark Benton 

1802-1857 



Reuben Clark Benton 

1802-1857 

HE was the first child of Samuel Slade and Esther 
(Prouty) Benton, and was born November 28, 1 802, 
in the little log cabin built by his father in Waterford, 
Vermont. I suppose his first name was given to him because 
he was the first-born. I do not find the name in the family. I 
understand the middle name, Clark, was for Deacon Luther 
Clark of St. Johnsbury, who was a friend of my grandparents. 
Reuben grew up a very strong, powerful man physically, said 
to have been the strongest man in the county. He worked 
on the farm until he was of age, November 28, 1 823. He then 
managed in some way to attend the Essex County Grammar 
School for three or four terms. I remember his saying that the 
first money he ever had of his own was forty dollars which 
he received for chopping for a clearing the winter after he 
was twenty-one. 

He continued to work for wages and attend school as much 
as he could for some years after he was of age, keeping his 
home, I have no doubt, with his father and mother. He also 
taught district schools with success. He married Almira 
Fletcher, the daughter of Samuel and Mary Anne (Billings) 
Fletcher, of Waterford, and one of a large family of children. 
She was a very capable and ambitious woman. Before her mar- 
riage she sewed and taught school, and was so well esteemed 
as a teacher that she was called as far away as Haverhill, New 
Hampshire, where for several years she kept the school at 
"Horse Meadows," North Haverhill. She was of great help 
to her husband, and he always recognized her ability and as- 
sistance. They were married at North Haverhill, New Hamp- 
shire, April 9, 1829, by the Rev. Grant Powers, who was then 
settled in Haverhill. About this time, probably in the spring 
of 1829, his father went to St. Johnsbury to live on the farm 
of his brother Jacob, who died September 27, 1 828, and Reu- 
ben took the home place at Waterford to carry on. His first 



BENTON 

1802 



180 Samuel £>iaDe Benton 

reuben child, named for himself, was born at this place May 13, 1830. 

clark He appears to have gone to St. Johnsbury, however, at some 
time prior to October 17, 1 83 1, for on that date his second 
child, named for his father, Samuel Slade, was born there. He 
was taxed in that town in 1832 and in 1833. 

April 28, 1832, he bought a part of the farm formerly 
belonging to his Uncle Jacob in St. Johnsbury from his fa- 
ther, who had purchased the farm from the other heirs of his 
brother, and he built a house there. November 28, 1833, he 
sold this property to his father and on the same day he bought 
of his father the original homestead lot in Waterford of one 
hundred acres with the buildings, for $1000. December 2, 
1836, he bought the remaining hundred acres of the home- 
stead place, comprising Lot 13, of his father for $400, making 
$1400 for the home farm of two hundred acres. In May, 1841, 
he sold the farm to Ira Brown for $2100. In December, 1840, 
he removed to Lunenburg, Vermont, where on December 
9, 1840, he purchased a farm for $2200. 

He was prominent and active in town affairs in Waterford 
all the time he lived there. In 1830 he was lister, highway 
surveyor, superintendent of schools, petit juror, and one of 
a committee of six elected for a purpose not named in the 
town record. In 1 83 1 he was chosen lister and superintendent 
of schools, but declined to serve as lister. In 1835 he was 
lister, petit juror, surveyor of highways, and in 1836 he was 
also auditor of accounts. In 1837 he was lister and selectman. 
In 1 838 he was auditor of accounts and moderator at the town 
meeting in March, and at the Freeman's meeting in September. 
In 1839 he was grand juror, one of a committee to buy a 
poor-farm, and was moderator. In 1840 he was grand juror. 
He was first taxed in Waterford in 1 824, and last taxed there 
in 1840. 

He lived in Lunenburg from 1840 to December, 1856, 
when he sold his farm for $4400, reserving the right to oc- 
cupy the same free of rent until April 1, 1857, and rented a 
place on the river road in the south part of Guildhall. He 
was prominent in town affairs, and in county and state affairs, 
from the time he went to Lunenburg until he left it. He was 
first taxed there in 1842 and last in 1857. In 1842 and 1844 



tyis Wtsttribants 



I8l 



he was highway surveyor and juror. In 1845 and 1846 he reuben 
was moderator, highway surveyor, and town agent. In 1847 CLARK 
he was chosen representative to the General Assembly. In BE1 J™ N 
1849 ne was moderator, selectman, town agent, and fence- < — , — - 
viewer. In 1850 he was representative to the General Assem- 
bly, selectman, and overseer of the poor. In 1 851 he was se- 
lectman, overseer of the poor, and town agent. In 1852 he 
was selectman, town agent, and auditor. In 1 853 he was mod- 
erator, town agent, and auditor. In 1854 he was auditor and 
town agent. In 1855 he was auditor, and in 1 856 he was town 
treasurer. From 1846 to 1856 he was a justice of the peace. 
In 1 845-1 846 he was elected Associate Judge of the County 
Court for Essex County. In 1 847-1 848 he was elected sheriff 
of Essex County. 

In 1 854-1 855 he was State's Attorney for Essex County. 
He had a natural gift for the law. His training in town affairs 
helped him in that direction, and after he was forty years of 
age he studied sufficiently to be admitted to practice in 1851. 
He became one of the most successful lawyers in that part of 
the State, especially in the trial of cases, and the record of his 
indictments while State's Attorney shows that he became a 
good criminal lawyer. He was a member of the State Senate 
in 1856, and elected to the Senate of 1857, but died before 
taking his seat. 

I remember my Uncle Reuben when he visited my father 
at Clinton, Michigan, in 1854. He loved to hunt and was a 
good shot. He made much of me, and I was taken to drive 
with him and my father, who had great admiration for his 
elder brother. And well he might have, for Reuben was a 
king among men. He was six feet in height, broad-shouldered 
and stoutly built, and weighed about two hundred and 
twenty-five pounds, with no superfluous flesh. He had strong 
common sense, and was positive, aggressive, and dominant, 
but of excellent good temper and kindness of heart. He was 
fond of mathematics and learned and practised surveying. 
He wrote with ease and well, and was a fluent, forcible 
speaker. 

I last saw him when he came to my father's at Bradford, 
Vermont, in 1857, on his way to the West. He stayed for a 



182 



Samuel £>iatie Benton 



reuben day or two only, and then my father went with him. I drove 
clark them to the railroad station, and well remember his jovial 
benton anc j kindly wav w ith me on the drive of some two or three 
v^_ j miles. He had then sold his place at Lunenburg and went 
West to find a place to take his family and settle. He was 
enthusiastic about the opportunities of the great West, which 
was then in the States east of the Mississippi, and though 
fifty-five years old was eager to begin a new career there. 
My father accomplished his business, which was in relation 
to loans due him in Michigan and, I think, in Iowa, and 
returned, leaving Reuben in the West. A short time after, 
as my father and I were husking corn in the barn on the 
Bradford farm, a messenger came with a telegram telling of 
my uncle's death at Rockford, Illinois, October n, 1857. 
His brother William was with him when he died. His re- 
mains were brought home and he was buried in the cemetery 
on the river road in the south part of Guildhall, Vermont. 

He left a substantial estate for the times, but no will, and 
the estate was settled by his widow, Almira F. Benton, as 
administratrix. The accompanying picture is copied from a 
daguerreotype, now in the possession of his daughter, Mrs. 
Robinson. It was taken when he was about fifty years old 
by a travelling artist, who caught him as he was in his ordinary 
dress and not freshly shaven. It is, however, a good likeness 
of him as I remember him. 

After his death his widow moved to Johnson, Vermont, 
where her son Reuben Clark and her eldest daughter Almira 
had been teachers, to educate her two younger children, Caleb 
Henry and Mary Esther. She lived there until her death, 
August 29, 1 873, when she was buried by the side of her hus- 
band at Guildhall, Vermont. 

The following information as to my uncle's legislative ac- 
tion I have obtained from the Vermont legislative journals 
and documents. 

In 1 846, when he was member of the House from Lunen- 
burg, he was chairman of a committee from Essex County 
to canvass votes for state officers, and a member of the 
"General Committee" from Essex County. This was a com- 
mittee to which all matters which were referred to a committee 







Reuben Clark Benton 
1852 



tyis ^Descendants 



183 



of one from each county were referred. He appears to have reuben 
been a very earnest Whig, and to have voted with that party clark 
on numerous votes against the war with Mexico. One of the B£ nton 
most interesting divisions which took place between the Demo- w^ 
crats and the Republicans on this subject was upon a reso- 
lution offered by Mr. Stephen Thomas, representative from 
Fairlee, and the Democratic leader, "That both Houses meet 
in joint assembly on Wednesday, the 21st instant, at four 
o'clock in the afternoon to offer up thanks to Almighty God 
for the signal victory lately obtained in Monterey, Mexico, 
by the American Army under the command of Gen. Taylor; 
that the Reverend Chaplain of the Senate be requested to ad- 
dress the Throne of Grace in prayer suited to the occasion." 
This resolution was laid on the table by a Whig vote of 108 
and a Democratic vote of $$, Mr. Benton voting in the af- 
firmative. Subsequently the House adopted a resolution with 
regard to the Mexican war, having a preamble reciting that — 

"Whereas in our judgment the existing war with Mexico 
was not founded in any imperative necessity such as may 
justify or excuse a Christian nation for resorting to arms, and 
has now manifestly become an offensive war against a neigh- 
boring republic: And whereas we have just grounds for an- 
ticipating that the territory which has been or may be occu- 
pied or conquered will become slave territory, and as such 
claim admission to the Union: And whereas its admission as 
such and with a mixed population degraded by ignorance and 
superstition, and allied to us neither in interests, character nor 
language, will endanger the harmony, welfare and perpetuity 
of the Union : Wherefore, Resolved : That the honor and best 
interests of the Union will be subserved by a speedy end of 
the war with Mexico and a settlement of all matters in dis- 
pute by arbitration or negotiation. 

"Resolved: That Vermont will not give its countenance, 
aid or assent to the admission into the Federal Union of any 
new State whose constitution tolerates slavery, and does here- 
by appeal to each of her sister States to concur in its own name 
in this declaration." 

This resolution was adopted by a party vote of 102 Whigs 
to 43 Democrats, Mr. Benton voting in the affirmative. 



BENTON 
1802 



184 Samuel £>iaUe Benton 

reuben On the next day the Democrats introduced a resolution, 
clark instructing his Excellency the Governor to forward to the 
President of Mexico a copy of the resolutions passed by the 
General Assembly of the State of Vermont, declaring the 
"war now existing between the United States and Mexico 
as unjust and oppressive on the part of the United States," 
which was laid on the table and there remained, not being 
taken up before adjournment. 

Mr. Benton appears to have been very attentive to his 
duties, and is recorded upon nearly every roll-call. He was 
obviously a strict party man, and was opposed to all bills to 
increase taxation or to increase salaries. He voted against the 
bill to increase the assistant judges of the Supreme Court 
from four to five members; and against the bill for suppres- 
sion of bowling alleys. He voted for a bill to increase the tax 
on pedlers on foot from $10 to $20. He voted against a bill 
to stop the geological survey of the State; against a bill to 
deduct money owed from real estate valuation for purposes 
of taxation; also against a bill to submit to voters the question 
of the abolition of the school fund. He voted for a bill re- 
quiring the State Treasurer to delay payment of the salary 
of the judges of the Supreme Court until they reported their 
decisions as required by statute law; and also for a resolution 
asking the Congressional delegation to change the terms of the 
United States Circuit and District Courts from Rutland and 
Windsor to Burlington and Chelsea. 

He was a member ofthe Constitutional Convention of 1 8 50 
from Lunenburg. Fifteen amendments were proposed at this 
Convention by the Council of Censors. Mr. Benton voted 
against all but two. He voted against the amendment to ap- 
portion representation in the House according to population, 
and not one representative for each town, and this amend- 
ment was rejected. He voted for the amendment making 
certain the constitution of the Senate. He voted against the 
amendment providing that no ballotingfor town representative 
should be commenced aftertwelve o'clock ofthe night of elec- 
tion day, which was rejected. He voted against an amendment 
providing that registers of probate should be elected by popu- 
lar vote, which was rejected. He voted against amendments 



tyis 2Descen&ants 



providing that assistant judges of the County Court, sheriffs, reuben 
state attorneys, judges of probate, and justices of the peace clark. 
should be elected by popular vote, all of which were adopted. B ™J 2 ° N 
He voted against the amendment limiting the number of jus- — , — - 
tices of the peace according to population in each town, which 
was rejected. He voted against an amendment providing that 
the Council of Censors should thereafter submit propositions 
for amendment of the Constitution directly to the people and 
not to the Legislature, which was rejected. 

He is recorded as having voted on every question before 
the Convention, including a motion at the close of the Con- 
vention that two days be deducted from the pay of the mem- 
bers, which was defeated although he with forty-four others 
voted for it. 

When he was a member of the House of Representatives 
of the State of Vermont in 1850, he was chairman of the com- 
mittee to canvass votes for state officers, also chairman of the 
committee on roads, which committee had jurisdiction of mat- 
ters relating to roads, ferries, bridges, and railroads. At that 
time there were many applications for charters of railroads. 
He appears to have been very active and quite influential, the 
Journal showing that he prevailed upon most of the matters 
in which he acted. 

He introduced a resolution that the committee on the bill 
relating to the Judiciary be " instructed to inquire into the 
expediency of erecting Courts of Conciliation, and Precogni- 
tion, within this State, and report by bill or otherwise." He 
was also chairman of the select committee upon the bill re- 
lating to the Judiciary. He voted against the bill for the in- 
crease of pay of the members of the Legislature, and also in 
favor of an amendment to the bill, providing that it should 
not apply to the members of that Legislature. But the bill 
was enacted without such amendment. He opposed and de- 
feated a resolution to adjourn for the purpose of accepting 
an invitation of the President of the Vermont Central Rail- 
road to the Legislature to take a trip over that road ; and also 
opposed and defeated an act exempting plank road stock from 
taxation. He voted against an act to "repeal the faculty tax 
on attorneys and physicians" and opposed all bills for in- 



BENTON 

1802 



186 Samuel SlaDe Benton 

reuben creased expenditures and reduction of taxation. He is recorded 
clark as having voted upon all matters except two upon which the 
yeas and nays were called. 

He was a member of the State Senate of Vermont in 1856, 
at which session his son, Reuben C. Benton, of Johnson, was 
elected secretary. He was a member of the committee to inform 
the Governor of the organization of the two branches, chair- 
man of the committee on banks, and a member of the com- 
mittee on roads. He appears to have been very constant in 
attention to his duties and fairly influential, although he does 
not seem to have exercised the controlling influence in the 
Senate that he did in the House. He was also chairman of the 
joint committee of the House and Senate of the Library, and 
November 15, he submitted a report and a resolution which 
was adopted. As this report and resolution were really the 
foundation of what has been done to create a Vermont State 
Library they are interesting. The report was as follows: — 

"An examination into the condition of the State Library 
has illustrated 'confusion worse confounded.' For several 
years past the Librarians have failed to make an annual report 
as required by law. There is no Catalogue of the books; noth- 
ing to show the number belonging to the State; how many 
have been purchased or otherwise procured, or how much 
money has been expended therefor. Very many books are 
absent, leaving important and valuable sets incomplete, and 
whether destroyed or in the hands of persons who improperly 
retain them, is unknown, excepting what appears from a very 
few receipts. Unauthorized exchanges have also been made to 
the detriment of the State. 

"A thorough reorganization and classification are demand- 
ed; imperfect sets of books should be made complete and new 
publications purchased. 

"The Librarian should prepare a Catalogue and make an 
annual report of all additions, losses, purchases, exchanges, 
and moneys expended. The room needs a new carpet, addi- 
tional shelves and a railing which will prevent the use and 
removal of books without the knowledge or consent of the 
Librarian. 

" But as your Committee have had but little time to con- 



tyis 2Descen6ant0 is 7 

sider this subject they feel unable to propose a remedy or reuben 
action in detail, and therefore recommend that this report on clark 
the matter referred to us be entered on the records of the Sen- be ^ton 
ate and the adoption of the following Resolution. w,_, 

"Resolved, by the Senate and House of Representatives, 
That the Governor be instructed to appoint an efficient per- 
son to act conjointly with the Librarian, to collect all books 
and property belonging to the State Library, classify the same, 
prepare a Catalogue and report to the next Legislature their 
action in full, together with such recommendations of repairs, 
purchases and regulations for the future government of the 
Library as to them seem sufficient." 

He advocated earnestly but ineffectually the passage of an 
act to ascertain the amount of personal property in the State 
exempt from taxation by reason of debts owing. 

He voted in favor of an act, which was passed, appropriat- 
ing $20,000 to be expended by the Governor in his discre- 
tion "for the purpose of furnishing food and clothing to such 
of the inhabitants of Kansas as may be in a suffering condi- 
tion for the want thereof." 

He is recorded as voting upon every question upon which 
the yeas and nays were called during the session. 

On the 14th of October he offered a resolution which was 
adopted, "that a Committee of three be appointed by the 
President to consider the outrages recently perpetrated against 
the freedom of speech and debate in our National Legislature." 

This resolution referred to the assault by Preston S. Brooks 
of South Carolina upon Senator Sumner of Massachusetts. 
Mr. Benton was chairman of the committee, and November 
1 2th he reported resolutions which after debate were adopted 
without change. 

This report shows his style of writing and method of ar- 
gument, and was as follows: — 
"To the Senate now in Session: 

YOUR Committee to whom was referred the resolution 
relative to outrages in our National Legislature, against 
freedom of speech and debate, respectfully represent, that they 
find the right to freedom of speech expressly guaranteed in the 
Constitution of the United States. They believe it to have 



Samuel £>Iatie Benton 




been a right established before the Constitution, and on such 
a basis that not even the Constitution itself could render it 
more sacred. 

"The early settlers of this country made this right one of 
their most cherished immunities. Driven out by oppression 
at home, seeking a shelter from the religious persecutions of 
Laud and the civil tyranny of Strafford, they came here to 
plant and establish republican institutions. The right of free 
speech was one of the earliest and deepest rooted of these: 
next to their religious persecutions they abhorred the denial 
of this right: next to the Court of High Commission, the 
Court of the Star Chamber was most oppressive. That plain 
out-spoken freedom of debate and earnestness in denouncing 
error which resented the heavy yoke of the House of Tudor, 
and rebelled against the imbecile tyranny of the House of 
Stuart, was brought with the early settlers of this country and 
by them established as a fundamental principle of republi- 
canism. From the time when Peter Wentworth stood up in 
the Parliament of Elizabeth to defend this right, to the time 
when Patrick Henry hurled a haughty defiance to the royal 
servants, that principle became more settled and better recog- 
nized each succeeding year. 

"Two hundred years of conflict and of trial, of good for- 
tune and of ill fortune, but of final success, had not only en- 
deared, but sanctified it in the hearts of the lovers of republican 
liberty ; and when the days of conflict were passed and the 
Republic was triumphantly established, among the chief and 
foremost of immunities to be guaranteed to the people was 
that of free speech. 

" Not only was its exercise guaranteed by the specific pro- 
visions of the Constitution, but was embraced in the fun- 
damental doctrines of our republican institutions, and is es- 
sential to their legitimate, successful operation, to their very 
existence. 

"The proper exercise, by the elector, of his elective fran- 
chise as a citizen requires intelligent action. If he cannot 
comprehend that action, then he is not an elector, but an 
automaton moving at the will of another. 

" His intelligent action can only be secured by full and free 



J^t0 2DescenUant0 



189 



discussion. If this discussion be controlled or curtailed, the reuben 
power so curtailing and controlling that right is the real clark 
ruler of the State; not the people. This is a right belonging B£ nton 
to, and to be exercised by, every citizen. But when men are — , — - 
set apart as the servants of the people, their legislative agents, 
this right of free speech which they possess in common with 
their fellow citizens becomes merged in, and expanded into, 
a positive, an imperative duty they owe their constituency. 
Members of Congress and of Legislatures are chosen to watch 
over the interests of the people, to guard their rights and to 
redress their wrongs. By the nature of the service they have 
undertaken, and the magnitude of the interests in their charge, 
they are bound, at all times, to a faithful discharge of their 
duty; and not only so, but when great principles are involved, 
when vital interests are at stake, they are especially bound to 
stand boldly forth and acquit themselves like men. 

"The private citizen, having only his own interest to guard, 
may, if he choose, neglect it, but the public servant who does 
so is guilty of a gross neglect of his duty. To uphold the right, 
to oppose the wrong, he must address the reason and under- 
standing of men, he must speak as well as vote. Nor should 
he shrink from denouncing the wrong as well as upholding the 
right through fear of disputes and even personal collision. His 
duties are to preserve the rights of the people, not to see or 
permit them to be sacrificed for the sake of personal quiet. It is 
better that there should be earnest and even bitter discussions 
and contentions in Legislative Halls than that error should be 
unrebuked; than to have legislative action crude and unsatis- 
factory, sending forth turmoils and contentions over the whole 
country. No false delicacy, no motives of policy, should deter 
a legislator from opposing, from denouncing, if need be, what 
is wrong, in the outset. 

" False legislation cannot be veiled and hidden from the eyes 
of a free and intelligent constituency. Whatever is passed over 
in silence, whatever of evil issues are not fully and fairly met, de- 
nounced, and vanquished in their place, come forth and spread 
over a wide field, doing incalculable, often irremediable harm. 
Whenever faulty legislation is allowed, by default or other- 
wise, it serves to weaken the respect of the people, not only 



190 



Samuel £>iaDe Benton 



REUBEN 

CLARK 

BENTON 

1802 



for the law-makers, but for the laws themselves, which is one 
of the worst evils which can exist in a republic. To omit to 
oppose an evil for the sake of avoiding collision with the de- 
fenders of such evil, is only cicatrizing the wound, leaving a 
canker to corrode and fester and poison the whole system. 

"Such are some of the views we entertain of the rights and 
duties of public servants. These duties, in the opinion of your 
Committee, have been often neglected; these rights too often 
outraged. They derive this opinion from numerous circum- 
stances brought to their notice, and particularly from the one 
referred to in a series of resolutions herewith submitted. 

"On the 2.2nd day of May last, Hon. Charles Sumner, 
a Senator from Massachusetts, was assaulted by a member 
of the House of Representatives, from South Carolina. The 
ostensible reason for this assault was offence taken from a 
speech delivered in the United States Senate, by the Senator, 
in which were strictures on the action of a remote relation 
of the assailant. Your Committee have not deemed it neces- 
sary to consider the speech to ascertain whether it was unjust 
toward the relative of Mr. Brooks or his State. So much of 
it as relates to matters of public importance and interest is 
not alleged by the defenders of the assault as an excuse for 
the outrage; so much as relates to personal considerations be- 
tween the two men is not within the province of any public 
legislature to adjust. Your Committee, however, find matter 
for grave consideration, in other circumstances than the sim- 
ple assault and the ostensible reason for it. These considera- 
tions are of a public character, and demand the attention of 
all. They are found in the fact that the perpetration of a deed, 
in itself cowardly and brutal, justified by reasons of a private 
nature only, meets a hearty response, is lauded and applauded, 
its perpetrator re-elected to Congress, feasted with public din- 
ners, made merry with wine, loaded with presents and praises 
in one part of the country, while the deed is excused, justi- 
fied or palliated in another, by men both of high station and 
of low degree. It was surely no personal private interest that 
has brought forth the plaudits that have welcomed the as- 
sailant throughout the entire South. The act itself was sig- 
nally destitute of all attributes to merit such praise. Stealing 



BENTON 

1802 



tyis SDescenDants 191 

upon his victim with malice aforethought, armed with deadly reuben 
weapons, and sustained by friendly conspirators, there is clark 
neither moral greatness nor even brute courage in the deed. 
A cruel assailant, and yet afraid to meet on equal terms the 
man he assails; a blustering duelist, yet coward-like declining 
the challenge himself had sent ! Surely, the man has no per- 
sonal traits to entitle him to the eclat with which he is re- 
ceived. Your Committee cannot believe that the cause assigned 
for the assault was its real reason, nor the true reason for its 
justification. They regard it as a mere pretext to cover a 
deeper, darker design. They are confirmed in this belief, when 
they consider that the speech was decorous in language, con- 
flicting with no parliamentary rule of debate, from the fact 
that he was not considered out of order by the Senate, and 
from the further fact that he was even exceeded in personal 
abuse by what had repeatedly been applied to the Senator 
himself, by some of the very men professing such exceeding 
indignation. It was a pretext, and only a pretext, to call it a 
personal chastisement, and were it so, the act was the more 
unjustifiable, the more heinous. Had Mr. Brooks, under 
such circumstances, assaulted a Southern Senator, instead 
of presents and praises he would have met execrations and 
punishment at home. These approvals of, and rewards for, 
the act, are not on account of respect for the action or the 
actor, or care for his relative, but because they disliked 
Senator Sumner on account of the opinions he expressed, 
and were enemies to those immortal principles of freedom 
he advocated. Your committee are of opinion that there are 
institutions, even in this boasted land of liberty, which will 
not bear the light of discussion, and that they are com- 
pelled to regard the outrage in question, its justification and 
palliation, as a deliberate attempt to repress expressions of 
opinion on the subject of a peculiar institution which can- 
not be defended by reason! Viewed in this light, there is 
in the outrage in question, and in the multiplicity of simi- 
lar outrages from like sources and from similar causes, some- 
thing more than mere personal quarrels; there is a public con- 
test, and a contest too of no ordinary character, of no trivial 
importance. Therefore, 



BENTON 
1802 



192 Samuel S>laDe Benton 

reuben "Resolved, That we deem it the right of every private citi- 
clark Z en, and the duty of every public legislator, to express his 
opinions freely on all subjects of legislation; that this right 
is secured, and this duty is enjoined, in the fundamental prin- 
ciples of our government; that their exercise is essential to its 
existence, and c formidable to tyrants only.' 

"Resolved, That we have learned of the assault upon the per- 
son of the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts with 
regret; we tender to him our sympathy in his suffering; and 
assure him that we regard the assault on him as an assault 
through him on principles which we cherish, and of which 
we regard him as a noble expounder. 

"Resolved, That by reason of the public justification of the 
assault on Senator Sumner by a portion of the people of this 
republic, and its palliation by another, we cannot regard it 
as the vindication of any personal affront, but are forced to 
consider it a deliberate attempt to stifle the free expression 
of opinion on subjects of national importance. 

" Resolved ', That we enjoin upon our Senators and Repre- 
sentatives in Congress the duty of speaking boldly and freely 
on all subjects under their consideration; and that Vermont 
will defend her servants in the performance of this duty, now 
and forever, and at whatever cost." 




^. yu-6*i~Ufi^-, 



The foregoing is a facsimile of the signature of Reuben C. 
Benton as foreman of the grand jury in Essex County at the 
May term, 1849. 

Reuben Clark and Almira (Fletcher) Benton had the fol- 
lowing children: — 

Reuben Clark, born May 13, 1830, at Waterford, Ver- 
mont; died January 8, 1895, at Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Samuel Slade, born October 17, 1 831, at St. Johnsbury, 
Vermont; died September 12, 1835, at St. Johnsbury. 

Almira Fletcher, born July 29, 1836, at Waterford, 
Vermont. 

Mary Esther, born April 2, 1839, at Waterford; died 
October 8, 1885, at Johnson, Vermont. 



$ts 2De0centmnts 193 

Caleb Henry, born February 26, 1841, at Lunenburg, reuben 
Vermont; died November 10, 1890, at Minneapolis, Min- clark 
nesota. B ^™ N 

A sketch of Reuben Clark Benton follows at page 293. — , — 

Almira Fletcher Benton married Le Roy Robinson at John- 
son, Vermont, Odober 9, 1865. They have had four chil- 
dren, all born at Stanstead, Province of Quebec: — 

Mirabel, born November 18, 1866. 

Jessie, born February 4, 1869; died February 26, 1892. 

Alice, born July 29, 1870. 

Katherine, born July 6, 1873. 

Mary Esther Benton married Albert A. Leland at John- 
son, Vermont, April 25, i860. They had eight children, all 
born in Johnson, Vermont: — 

Frederick Adams, born May 27, 1861. 

Lucy Louise, born July 4, 1865. 

George Benton, born December 14, 1870. 

Thomas Henry, born February 20, 1872. 

Mary Almira, born January 23, 1874. 

Clarence Albert, born March 8, 1877. 

Helen Douglass, born December 4, 1880; died October 12, 
1882. 

Clifford M., born July 4, 1882. 

A sketch of Caleb Henry Benton follows at page 303. 



Hannah Slade Benton 

1805-1893 



Hannah Slade Benton 

1805-1893 



SHE was the second child and the oldest daughter of 
Samuel Slade and Esther (Prouty) Benton, and was 
born at Waterford, Vermont, August 13, 1805, in the 
original log house built by her father in 1 801. She was named 
for her father's mother, Hannah Slade. The only education 
she had was at the primitive district school, and one or two 
terms at the Essex County Grammar School. 

When she was about twenty-three years of age, she mar- 
ried Jesse Willard Stoddard, the son of a neighbor, and they 
lived on a farm in Waterford all their lives. They had eleven 
children, all born at Waterford, as follows: — 

Esther Maria, born April 6, 1829. 

Josiah Willard, born April 30, 1830. 

Jesse William, born December 3, 183 1 ; who died April 
12, 1833. 

Hannah Elizabeth, born January 26, 1834. 

Samuel Slade, born December 12, 1836. 

Harriet Kinney, born October 19, 1838. 

Mary Boardman, born May 26, 1840. 

Charles J., born June 1, 1842. 

George Allen, born January 8, 1845. 

Emily Ellen, born November 4, 1846; who died June 
18, 1863. 

Helen Relief, born December 17, 1850; who died De- 
cember 25, 1850. 

She was admitted to the North Congregational Church 
at St. Johnsbury by profession May 13, 1832; and her hus- 
band was admitted in the same manner at the same time. 
February 14, 1851, they were removed by letter to the Con- 
gregational Church at Waterford, of which they remained 
members while they lived. I understand she was always 
much interested in church affairs. She was a woman of strong, 
independent character, of great force and industry. I remem- 



198 Samuel £>laDe Benton 

hannah ber her as long ago as when I was a boy of five years of 

slade age. I saw her last at the home of her son, Josiah Stoddard, 

benton wnere she lived, in 1890, I think. She was then eighty-five, 

v_^ clear-minded, of good memory, and quite capable of taking 

care of herself and having a suitable degree of influence upon 

all those around her. She was what may be called a notable 

woman, and much respected by her neighbors. 

Her mother came to live with her after her father's death, 
and was cared for by her from 1857 to the spring of i860, 
when she died at her house in Waterford. Her husband died 
August 26, 1882, and she died at the house of her eldest 
son, Josiah Willard Stoddard, in Lower Waterford, March 
3, 1893, at the age of eighty-eight. Both she and her hus- 
band are buried by the side of her father and mother in the 
cemetery at Lower Waterford, Vermont. The following is 
her signature from a letter in my possession written in 1859. 



•JWa^i^u cxJL <^£^ *^^£ 



The accompanying pi&ure is from a photograph furnished 
me by one of her grandchildren. 




Hannah S/ade Stoddard 
185 1 



Samuel Austin Benton 

1807-1865 



Samuel Austin Benton 

1807-1865 



HE was the second son and third child of Samuel Slade 
and Esther (Prouty) Benton, and was born at Water- 
ford, Vermont, May 3, 1807. His first name was 
obviously given him for his father, but I have not ascertained 
for whom his middle name was given, though it is a family 
name in other branches of the Benton family. He worked 
on the farm until he was of age, in 1828, attending the district 
schools in the winter. 

March 9, 1828, he was admitted to the North Congrega- 
tional Church at St. Johnsbury by profession. He was of a 
scholarly disposition, and fitted for college under great diffi- 
culties, supporting himself and paying his way by manual 
labor and by teaching district schools, while he attended the 
Essex County Grammar School and Peacham Academy. He 
was admitted at Amherst College in 1832, when he was twenty- 
five years of age. I have not ascertained why he went to Am- 
herst, but it probably was because his Aunt Mary, wife of 
Deacon Samuel Kingsbury, lived there. At the end of his 
second college year, in 1 834, he entered Middlebury College, 
at Middlebury, Vermont, where he graduated in 1836. He 
was principal of the Academy at Randolph, Vermont, in 1836, 
1837, and 1838, and studied theology with the Rev. James 
Bucknam of Chelsea, Vermont, in 1837 and 1838. 

August 7, 1838, he was licensed to preach by the Orange 
County Association, and he supplied for ten months the 
pulpit of the Congregational Church at Strafford, Vermont, 
when he was called to the pastorate at that place. About the 
same time he was invited to become pastor of the Congrega- 
tional Church at Saxton's River in Rockingham, Vermont, 
where he was ordained January 15, 1 840, and preached until 
November 23, 1842. He then went to Armada, Michigan, 
where he was settled, October 15, 1843, as a nome mission- 
ary under commission from the American Home Missionary 



ioi 



Samuel SlaUe Benton 



BENTON 
1807 



samuel Society. He lived at Armada and preached there and at Bruce, 
austin a place near by, for seven years. He then preached entirely 
at Armada for six years more, when he received a call to the 
Congregational Church at Anamosa, Iowa, which he accepted, 
and was installed there December 1, 1 856. He preached there 
until November 24, 1861, when he resigned and preached 
his farewell sermon, having been commissioned November 
22, i86i,as chaplain of the 14th Iowa Regiment. His health 
was not sufficient to endure the hardships of army life, and 
January 30, 1862, he resigned as chaplain and returned to 
his home at Anamosa. I cannot ascertain that he preached 
regularly at any place after this. 

September 10, 1838, when he was thirty-one years old, he 
married Sarah Maria Nutting, daughter of William and Mary 
(Hubbard) Nutting of Randolph, Vermont. They had one 
son, Samuel Nutting, who was born at Saxton's River, De- 
cember 22, 1839, and died at Anamosa, Iowa, August 6, 
1859, where he is buried. Samuel Austin Benton's wife, Sarah 
Maria, died August 3, 1 841, at Saxton's River, Vermont, and 
is there buried. 

March 2, 1 842, he married her sister, Eliza Anne Nutting, 
at Randolph, Vermont. She died August 2, 1864, at Ana- 
mosa, Iowa, and is there buried. August 29, 1865, he mar- 
ried Miranda Dockstader of Wyoming in Madison Town- 
ship, Iowa. I understand that in 1865, he had been very ill 
with typhoid pneumonia, and Mrs. Dockstader, at whose 
house in Wyoming he boarded, had with her daughter nursed 
and cared for him with great fidelity. After his recovery he 
married the daughter, and with her then went East on a long- 
planned visit to his brothers and sisters and the home of his 
childhood. He visited his brother Josiah at Maidstone, Ver- 
mont, his brother Charles at Guildhall, Vermont, and his 
brother Jacob at Lancaster, New Hampshire. He then went 
to see his oldest sister, Hannah Slade Stoddard, at Lower 
Waterford, Vermont. While there he expressed a great de- 
sire to visit the old "Benton farm" where he was born and 
brought up, and especially the trout brook in which he fished 
as a boy. He said he wanted to wade in the brook and walk 
over every foot of the farm. His nephew, George A. Stod- 




Samuel Austin Benton 
1864 



$fe ^Descendants 



203 



1807 



dard, went with him. It was a long walk, and coming back samuel 
Mr. Benton was taken with profuse hemorrhage from the Austin 
lungs, and reached his sister's house with great difficulty. He I 
never recovered, though he was removed a short distance to 
the house of his sister, Mrs. Elizabeth Kinney, after a few 
days. His brothers, Josiah or Charles, were with him most of 
the time until he died, November 19, 1865, at the house of 
his sister Elizabeth, at Mclndoes Falls, in the town of Barnet, 
Vermont. His remains were taken by his widow and his brother 
Charles to Anamosa, where he was buried beside his wife and 
son by his old people, from the church where he had preached 
under many discouragements with acceptance and success. 

The picture of him is from a photograph taken in Sep- 
tember, 1864, after he had been ill for some years, but is the 
only one I can find to be now in existence. 

When he went to Armada in 1843, he had a little Mor- 
gan mare of which he was very fond, and he drove her all 
the way from Vermont to Michigan, taking his wife and 
little boy, then about two years and a half old, with him. At 
Armada he bought land and became in reality a farmer mis- 
sionary. I remember being there as a boy, about 1 8 54 or 1 8 5 5. 
He then had Morgan horses, the progeny of the little mare 
which he drove from Vermont, kept sheep, and had quite a 
farm. When he went to Armada there was no church or place 
of worship, and no school, services being held in the houses 
of the settlers. He opened a school which he himself taught 
for some time, and he soon induced his people to build a 
small meeting-house, which I remember seeing. I remember 
hearing my uncle say with a good deal of satisfaction that 
he laid all the shingles on that meeting-house with his own 
hands. He and his wife lived in a very plain and primitive 
way. Money, I think, was very scarce, and I doubt if he ever 
had much salary at Armada beyond the assistance which he 
received from the Home Missionary Society. 

He was an old-fashioned, strict construction Calvinist. I 
remember his being at Clinton, Michigan, visiting my father 
when I was a lad, and hearing him reprove my father for hav- 
ing in his library a set of the then recently published works 
of Dr. Channing, saying that they were not proper books 



204 



Samuel S>iaDe Benton 



BENTON 

1807 



samuel for a Christian minister to have. This prompted me to look 
austin into the books to see what they were, with the result that I 
read them all, and I now have the identical set, which my 
father afterwards gave to me. 

My Uncle Samuel was most painstaking in whatever he 
had to do. I think he always wrote his discourses and with 
great care. He was an earnest anti-slavery man, took an in- 
terest in public affairs and especially in town matters. He 
was a good neighbor, helpful, kind, and considerate, and had 
the respect and esteem not only of the people of his own 
congregation but of the town. One of his old parishioners 
writes me that "Mr. Benton was an excellent man, a good 
preacher, and a faithful worker in church and society, and 
his going from us was regretted by all." 

He first went to Anamosa to keep an appointment to preach 
made by his brother Josiah, but which he was unable to keep. 
Shortly after his return to Armada he received a call from 
Anamosa, and with true missionary spirit left his people at 
Armada, and went to the then new field in Iowa. He always, 
however, retained his interest in his old church and its mem- 
bers, and they did not forget him, and after his death held a 
special memorial service to show their respect for his life and 
conduct among them. 

This is a facsimile of his signature to a letter in 1833. 




He accumulated very little property, and was practically 
a poor man all his life. He left a will as follows: — 

KNOW all men by these presents that I, Samuel A. Ben- 
ton of Anamosa, in Jones County, in the State of Iowa, 
Minister of the Gospel being of sound Disposing memory do 
make & publish this my last will and testament. 

1 st I give and bequeath to my beloved wife Miranda all 
of my Estate both Real and Personal for her exclusive use 



tyis SDescenDants 



205 



and benefit during her natural life, except provided she shall samuel 
bear a child or children to me then I give and bequeath to Austin 
such child or children one half of all my estate both real and B£ nton 
personal to be set off to each on its attaining the age of ma- < — ,__ / 
jority, and if more than one, said half to be equally divided 
between them, and the income of the same to be used for 
their support and maintenance during their minority. 

2nd. I give and bequeath to the American board of Com- 
missioners for foreign missions whatever remains of my es- 
tate after the decease of my wife Miranda not herein other- 
wise disposed of. 

3rd. I ordain and appoint my wife Miranda and Addison 
W. Pratt of Wyoming in Jones County, State of Iowa, Joint 
Executors of this my last Will and Testament. 

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and 
seal and publish and declare this to be my last Will and 
Testament this fourth day of November, A. D. One thou- 
sand Eight hundred and Sixty-five. 

S. A. Benton 

The appraisal of all his personal property except that 
which by law passed to his widow amounted only to $270.50. 
Beside this there was some real estate subject to tax sales, 
and a small amount which was sold for $1359. The pay- 
ment of his debts absorbed substantially all the property as 
I am informed. 

He had only one child, the son by his first wife, who died 
August 6, 1859. 



Esther Benton 

1808-1888 



Esther Benton 

1808-1888 



SHE was the second daughter and the fourth child of 
Samuel Slade and Esther (Prouty) Benton. She was 
named for her mother, and was born at Waterford, 
Vermont, July 11, 1808. She was the first child born in the 
frame house constructed in the place of the original log house 
built by my grandfather. She attended the district school in 
Waterford, and went as a member of her father's family to 
St. Johnsbury in 1828, when she was twenty years of age. 
November 13, 1831, in the great revival of that year, she 
was admitted by profession as a member of the North Con- 
gregational Church at St. Johnsbury, and remained a mem- 
ber of that church during her life. She was of studious dis- 
position, and attended the Essex County Grammar School 
with her brother Reuben and sister Hannah, and qualified 
herself as a teacher. She taught districl schools in Vermont 
until 1 835, when she was twenty-seven years of age, and then 
went to the McLean Asylum at Somerville, then a part of 
Charlestown, Massachusetts. She was much attached to her 
younger brother, William Chauncey, and aided him to go to 
school from her small earnings as a teacher. 

She was employed at the McLean Asylum as an attendant 
from May, 1835, to September 1, 1845, and was paid at the 
rate often dollars a month. She went to Charlestown, Massa- 
chusetts, at the request of a young doctor who had married 
a friend of hers in Waterford. While there she became ac- 
quainted with James Timothy Starr. He was an attendant 
in the hospital from 1839 until 1845, at tne rate of thirteen 
dollars a month, with occasional payments for unusual haz- 
ards in care of certain patients. September 1, 1845, s ^ e mar ~ 
ried Mr. Starr at Charlestown, and they went, I think, to 
Milton, Vermont, from which town he came, and lived on 
a farm until 1856, when they removed to Lakeland, Min- 
nesota, and there lived on a farm for about six months, when 



2IO 



Samuel SlaDe Benton 



Esther they went to another farm at Hudson, Wisconsin, living there 
benton until 1880, when they moved to River Falls, Wisconsin. 
vLJL Before this removal my aunt was stricken with paralysis, 
from which she never fully recovered, although she lived un- 
til 1888. She died June 25, 1888, at River Falls, Wisconsin, 
but is buried in the new cemetery at Hudson, Wisconsin. 
She was always a member of the Congregational Church 
in the town where she lived, and was quite active in church 
and social matters. She was very fond of reading and of writ- 
ing, and she wrote well, with a good English style. She had 
no children, but was always interested in the families of her 
brothers and sisters, and kept up correspondence with them 
all her life. Her husband was living at Waukesha, Wiscon- 
sin, in 1898. The following is a facsimile of her signature from 
a letter written in 1870, in my possession. 

The accompanying picture is from a daguerreotype taken 
probably soon after she was married, in 1845. 




Esther Benton Starr 
1846 



Mary Benton 

1809-1878 



Mary Benton 
1809-1878 



SHE was the third daughter and the fifth child of Samuel 
Slade and Esther (Prouty) Benton, and was named for 
her father's sister Mary, who married Deacon Kings- 
bury of Amherst. She was born at Waterford, October 16, 
1 809, and was nineteen years of age when her father moved to 
St. Johnsbury. She attended the district schools in Waterford, 
and as her brother, my father, tells me, also attended the Es- 
sex County Grammar School, which was then a noted school 
in northern Vermont, under charge of Samuel Reed Hall as 
principal, at Concord. 

February 22, 1831, she married William C. Boardman, 
who came to St. Johnsbury from Norwich, Vermont. He was 
a carpenter by trade, and he built a hotel in St. Johnsbury 
and attempted to keep a temperance house. I understand, how- 
ever, that he was not successful, and abandoned this business 
and became a travelling salesman for the Fairbanks Brothers, 
who had then begun the manufacture of scales at St. Johns- 
bury. He also built a house, now owned by the St. Johnsbury 
Academy and occupied by the principal, and which stands 
next south of the present Academy building. 

He had his home at St. Johnsbury until 1854, when he 
purchased of one Horatio N. Burnham, a place on the main 
street in Newbury, Vermont, where he and his wife went to 
live. It was a pretty little cottage, standing some distance back 
from the street on the east side, with an avenue of fir trees 
leading to it. December 25, 1855, this place was sold to Enoch 
Wiggins, and Mr. Boardman and his wife removed to Ma- 
quoketa, Iowa, where they settled in 1856, and continued to 
live until the death of my aunt, Mrs. Boardman, May 12, 
1878, and the death of Mr. Boardman, April 28, 1884. 

Both Mrs. Boardman and her husband were admitted by 
profession as members of the North Congregational Church 
at St. Johnsbury, November 13, 1 831, during the great revi- 



2i 4 Samuel £>lat)e Benton 

mary val. October 16,1851, they both removed by letter to the South 

benton Congregational Church at St. Johnsbury. They had no chil- 

J_^9 dren, but in 1 856, after the death of my mother, they adopted 

my sister, Mary Isabella Benton, who had been named Mary 

for her aunt, Mrs. Boardman. She died October 10, 1865, at 

Maquoketa, Iowa, and is there buried. 

Both Mr. Boardman and my aunt were very thrifty peo- 
ple, and she was a woman of marked capacity for business. 
They accumulated a comfortable fortune before they went 
West, and retained it. I remember her very well. She came to 
Clinton, Michigan, in the winter of 1 855-1 856, after the 
death of my mother, and stayed with us for several months. 
This, I think, was on their way to Maquoketa, and when she 
left us she took my sister Mary with her to her new home. 
She was a large, fine-looking woman, particular in dress, not 
very attractive or amiable in disposition, but inclined to man- 
age her amiable husband and everybody else with whom she 
came in contact. She had not the love of reading and books 
of her sister Esther, but liked affairs and business, and was 
always active in church and social matters. 

She was afflicted for years before her death with a disease 
which compelled her to spend much time in the East for 
treatment, and she died at Newbury, Vermont, May 13, 1 878. 
Her sister, Mrs. Kinney, attended and cared for her in her 
last illness. Her remains were taken to Maquoketa, where 
she was buried by the side of my sister Mary, to whom she 
was much attached. 

The following is a facsimile of her signature. 

She was an active teacher in the Sunday-school of the Con- 
gregational Church at Maquoketa for many years, and the 
following resolutions were passed upon her death: — 

1[ Resolutions passed by the Officers and Teachers of the Congre- 
gational Sunday-school, Maquoketa, Iowa, upon the death of Mrs. 
W. C. Boardman: 

JVhereas, It has pleased the Master to call our fellow-teach- 




Mary Benton Boardman 
1858 



tyis SDescen&ante «s 

er, Mrs. William C. Boardman, to a higher sphere of labor, mary 

after many years of usefulness both in our Sabbath-school and benton 

u u j i8oq 

in our church; and ^^Z, 

Whereas, The active Christian life and peaceful death of 
such a laborer in the Lord's vineyard presents to us very 
many lessons which we gladly cherish; therefore 

Resolved, That our school, by the removal from our midst 
by death of a worthy and beloved teacher, has met with a 
loss which it will be hard to fill ; a loss which even the young- 
est member will most deeply appreciate. 

1. She has left us the legacy of an example of active Chris- 
tian usefulness and well doing, of right purpose and good in- 
tention, which we may all well copy. 

3. While we deeply sympathize with our brother, W. C. 
Boardman, in the great loss of his present bereavement, we 
know He, who does not willingly afflict any of us, has or- 
dered this dispensation of His Providence, and this present 
separation was necessary that we may meet in a higher and 
better world. The Lord's will be done. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be presented 
to Brother Boardman by our Superintendent, as a slight rec- 
ognition of our respect and esteem for our departed fellow- 
teacher. 

The picture of Mrs. Boardman is from a photograph in 
my possession, which I think was taken about 1858. 

Her husband had no special business except the care of 
his property after he went to Maquoketa, and at his death 
was buried in Mt. Hope Cemetery by the side of his wife and 
their adopted daughter Mary. 



Elizabeth Benton 

1813-1887 



220 



Samuel S>iatie Benton 



ELIZA- 
BETH 
BENTON 
l8l 3 



ford, Vermont. He was always known as "Deacon Kinney." 
He was a farmer, not successful in the acquisition of property, 
although quite an intelligent man. I remember as a boy hear- 
ing him say, " I can't make money, but I know how it is made." 
After their marriage they lived in Waterford until about 1 843 , 
when they went to Newbury, Vermont, and lived on the 
farm on the river road which was subsequently bought by my 
grandfather of Deacon Kinney in 1845, anc ^ to which my 
grandfather removed in 1847, an d where he died. After they 
left Waterford they added the "y" to the name, as was done 
by most of the family, a change to be regretted, I think. 

In 1846 they went to Hartford, Vermont, where they re- 
mained, I should judge from the records, so far as I can ob- 
tain them, until about 1854. In April, 1855, they were living 
in Chester, Vermont, and their son Amos was attending the 
Chester Academy. They removed to Bradford, Vermont, in 
1855 or 1856, where Deacon Kinney bought what was known 
as the "Johnson Farm," afterwards owned by my father, Josiah 
H. Benton. June 3, 18 57, they sold this farm to my father and 
removed to Orfordville, New Hampshire, where'-their young- 
est child was born, November 2 5, 1857. From Orfordville they 
moved about 1 860 to Waterford, Vermont. After a short stay 
there, I do not know how long, they removed to Barnet, Ver- 
mont, an adjoining town, where they lived in 1865, when Mrs. 
Kinney's brother, the Rev. Samuel Austin Benton, died at 
their house while on a visit. They then moved, at what date 
I do not know, to "Newbury Street" in Newbury, Vermont, 
where Mrs. Kinney's sister Mary died, May 13, 1878. 

In 1882 their children had all gone away, and they went to 
live with their daughter Ellen, then Mrs. Ware, the wife of 
a farmer in Irasburg, Vermont, where they lived until Mrs. 
Kinney died, May 14, 1887, and Deacon Kinney died, April 
22, 1890. They are both buried in the cemetery at Coven- 
try, Vermont. 

Mrs. Kinney was a large, handsome woman, said in her 
youth to have been the handsomest of all the sisters, of a 
most kindly and affectionate disposition. She was fond of 
reading and interested in books and art. She was a good 
singer, having a clear, full soprano voice, and was active in 




V 4 - - * 

^L m - 
f* mmm mm m m m m 

* a m w £* m m m m 

* * t m m m m 
* *>» m m 



Elizabeth Benton Kinney 
1864 



tyis 2DescenDants 



221 



church and social life. She was very fond of her family and eliza- 
friends, an amiable, excellent woman, liked by all who knew beth 
her. She had many trials and hardships, but met them all BE j N 8 ™ N 
pleasantly, and always made the best of everything which w^ 
came. 

This is a facsimile of her signature to a letter written to her 
brother Jacob in 1855. 

The picture is from a photograph taken when she was 
about fifty-one, and is an excellent likeness. 




Jacob Benton 

1814-1892 



Jacob Benton 

i 8 14-1892 



HE was the fourth son and the eighth child of Sam- 
uel Slade and Esther (Prouty) Benton, and was born 
at Waterford, Vermont, August 19, 1814. He was 
named for his uncle Jacob Benton. His grandfather and great- 
grandfather were also named Jacob. When he was fourteen 
years old his father removed to St. Johnsbury, and he re- 
mained at home working on the farm, with ordinary district 
schooling and a term or two at the Academy at Lyndon or 
Peacham, until he was of age, in August, 1835, after which 
he supported himself by labor and teaching district schools. 
In 1836 and 1837 he and his brother Josiah attended the 
Randolph Academy, of which their brother Samuel was then 
principal, and boarded with William Nutting, the village 
lawyer, whose daughter their brother Samuel afterward mar- 
ried. Dr. H. G. Nutting, now living at Randolph Centre, 
Vermont, remembers them at that time. 

In 1838 they both attended the Burr and Burton Semi- 
nary at Manchester, Vermont. But there were no catalogues 
in those days and the only thing found upon the record is 
that in March, 1838, Jacob Benton paid "tuition $5., rent 
$i.50,incidentals$3.75"and that Josiah paid" tuition $6., rent 
$2.25, incidentals $3.75," the $6 tuition being "paid from 
the fund," which means that he was studying for the minis- 
try, and could therefore have his tuition paid from the fund 
which had been established to aid such students. They do 
not seem to have been boarders at the Seminary boarding- 
house, where the charge for board at that time was $1 5.1 2 for 
fifteen weeks. Sixty-seven boarders with the steward and wife 
were boarded for fifteen weeks at a cost of $829.93, anc ^ cred- 
ited with $369.48 for labor during the same time. The ac- 
counts show that ham, pork, flour, molasses, and milk were 
the staples, and that butter was an "extra." These I appre- 
hend were substantially the conditions of ordinary student 



2 2 6 Samuel £>laDe Benton 

jacob life in Vermont at that time. I understand Jacob graduated 
benton at Burr and Burton Seminary in 1839, but the record of the 
^fjLt school at that time is not to be had. 

In the fall of 1 840 he opened a private school at Concord, 
Vermont, which he taught for two or three years. His brother 
Josiah was with him and taught writing classes a portion of 
the time. During this time he continued the study of the 
law as a student with Henry A. Bellows, then of Littleton, 
New Hampshire, and afterwards justice and chief justice 
of the Supreme Court of New Hampshire. In the spring of 
1843, when he was twenty-nine, he went to Lancaster, New 
Hampshire, and entered the office of General Ira Young, 
then a leading member of the bar at that place; and when 
admitted to the bar in July, 1843, ne became a partner of 
General Young, and remained so until 1845, when General 
Young died. He then continued the practice of law alone 
until 1855, when Ossian Ray became his partner and re- 
mained such till 1 865. In the fall of 1 866 his nephew, J. H. 
Benton, Jr., became his partner, and remained so until 1 871. 
From that time until 1885 he practised law alone, and in 
1885, 1886, and 1887, H. I.Goss was his partner, after which 
he continued practice alone until his death, September 29, 
1892. He was a member of the bar and in practice nearly fifty 
years in Lancaster. 

He was a member of the First Congregational Church in St. 
Johnsbury, Vermont. July 10, 1 831, he was admitted to the 
North Congregational Church at St. Johnsbury, from which 
he was excommunicated February 17, 1846, because after he 
went to Lancaster he did not join the Congregational Church 
there. This was in accordance with the custom in such cases 
at that time in the Congregational churches in Vermont, and 
did not imply any misconduct: except neglect to join the church 
in the new place of residence. 

But although he was not a member of the church at Lan- 
caster he was a man of religious temperament, and a regular 
attendant upon the Congregational Church all his life. In his 
youth he was fond of music, and I am told led the church 
choir in Lancaster for some years after he went there. He 
was quite a constant reader of the Scriptures, and I remem- 



$fe 2Descentiantfi **i 

ber that it was his custom in the latter part of his life to read jacob 
the Scripture before he retired, although he very seldom benton 
talked about religious matters. ll^i 

In politics he was an earnest, active, persistent partisan, 
originally a Henry Clay Whig, then a Republican, and ac- 
tive from the formation of that party until the time of his 
death. In the years 1854, 1855, and 1856, he was a member 
of the New Hampshire House of Representatives from Lan- 
caster, and was very prominent and active. In i860 he was 
a delegate from New Hampshire to the Republican Con- 
vention at Chicago, which nominated Lincoln for President. 
He served as chairman of the committee on credentials, and 
was quite prominent in the convention. January 9, 1867, 
he was nominated by acclamation as the Republican candi- 
date for Congress in the Third New Hampshire District, 
and was elected, and in 1869 he was reelected, and served 
four years as member of Congress from that District. He 
was interested in military affairs, and was at one time a 
brigadier-general in the militia, from which he was frequently 
called "Gen. Benton." He was always active in town affairs, 
though he did not hold a town office except, I think, acting 
occasionally as moderator of the town meeting. He was fond 
of agriculture, and I think never enjoyed himself more than 
when engaged in improving a rocky piece of land, or raising 
fine crops. He always had a farm or two on his hands, ap- 
parently for amusement, as I think he never had any profit 
from them. He was fond of horses, and always insisted on 
having the best. 

December 12, i860, he married Louise D wight, the oldest 
daughter of Neal and Maria Cornelia Durant ( Maynard) Dow, 
at Portland, Maine. She was born at Portland, March 23, 
1 83 1. They had no children, and she outlived him several 
years and died December 7, 1895, at Lancaster, New Hamp- 
shire. He died at Lancaster, September 29, 1892, at the age 
of seventy-eight, and is there buried. His death was caused 
by an accident. He wished to go from his house to the rail- 
road station to say good-by to a party of friends who had 
been stopping with him and were then going away to the 
West, and directed his man to bring out a horse so that he 



2 2 8 Samuel SlaDe Benton 

jacob could drive. One of his horses was spirited and not safe, and 
benton of course this was the one he liked the best. When the man 
ii^l, brought out a quiet horse he scolded him roundly and told 
him to bring out the other one, which was done, and he drove 
to the station. Coming back the horse took fright, but proba- 
bly, as Mr. Benton was a very superior horseman, no trouble 
would have occurred if the bit had not broken in the horse's 
mouth, when he ran away, throwing Mr. Benton out, break- 
ing his hip, thigh, and arm, and fracturing his skull. He be- 
came at once unconscious, and died in a few hours. 

This is a facsimile of his signature to a letter to me in 1 867. 





Cj^Zt^r. 



Jacob Benton was a large, powerful man, more than six 
feet in height. In his youth he was "long, lean, and green," 
as I have been told by those who knew him then. In mid- 
dle life he grew to be a very handsome man, and kept his 
erect and vigorous carriage even in old age. He was a strong, 
dominant, aggressive personality. He and his friends and 
clients were always right, and everybody else wrong. He was 
not scholarly in his tastes, but had strong legal instincts, and 
an excellent natural sense of justice. He was open, honest, 
and bold in all his dealings and conduct, and hated shams 
and subterfuge. He was not a profound or great lawyer, but 
he usually knew sufficient law for his case, and in that inde- 
scribable quality which may perhaps be called "generalship," 
in the marshalling of facts and management of witnesses, 
parties, jurors, and the court, — in all the qualities which go 
to make up the great jury lawyer, he was without a superior, 
if, indeed, he had an equal at the bar where he practised. 

He made strong friends, and was loyal to them. He made 
bitter enemies, and was consistently and persistently hostile 
to them. He was for more than a quarter of a century easily 
the leading figure at the bar, in politics, and in town and so- 



tyis ^Descendants 229 

cial life in the town and county where he lived. The follow- jacob 
ing resolution and remarks of the bar, upon his death, give benton 
a very fair idea of his character and qualities : — ^ 

"The members of the Coos County Bar desire to place 
on the records of this Court their appreciation of the life and 
character of their late brother, the Hon. Jacob Benton, and 
the fact: that in his sad and tragic death they lose one of their 
oldest and strongest members; a man of remarkable force, un- 
limited professional resources, unusual mental endowments, 
great physical vigor, and a citizen who never failed to fill 
with honor the high positions to which his countrymen called 
him." 

Remarks were made in part as follows: — 

By the Hon. B. F. Whidden. 

I RISE as the oldest member of the Coos Bar present to 
move the passage of the appropriate resolution in regard 
to the death of our deceased brother. The news of Mr. Ben- 
ton's sudden and violent death created a profound sensation 
among all classes in the community. It was a shock felt by 
all. Perhaps no man in the town was better known than he. 
He has been a resident here for more than a generation, 
taking an active part in all business relations, both public 
and private in town, and in this sudden announcement all 
seemed struck dumb in the presence of death. In this calam- 
ity we are assured that the terrors and sufferings common 
to the approach of the great destroyer, death, were merci- 
fully spared our deceased brother, so that he passed to the 
land of the Hereafter without a struggle or a pain. Perhaps 
no member of this bar feels the weight of this sudden blow 
more forcibly than myself, or is reminded more distinctly of 
the certainty and nearness of death. We were admitted to 
this bar at about the same time, and have been longer in prac- 
tice together than any living members of the Coos Bar. We 
have been on intimate terms and relations since 1846. . . . 
In our long practice in this court together our social rela- 
tions have always been friendly. I always found him a strong 
opponent and an able assistant. He was an able advocate 
before the jury. He seized upon and marshalled his strong 



230 



Samuel g>Ia&e Benton 



jacob points with great power. He was a man of decided opinions 
benton and fearless in expressing them. He had his likes and his dis- 
l_^t likes. He was a warm friend, and never deserted a friend or 
a cause he had espoused on principle. He was a good citi- 
zen and public-spirited man. The interests of the town were 
his interests. He was liberal and kind to the lowly and suf- 
fering, and this led him to espouse the cause of the black 
man, whose rights he defended with all his zeal and power. 
" Though a scholar, he was not a bookman, in the ordinary 
acceptation of the term. He never relied on technicalities, 
but seized upon the great points in his case and urged them 
with great power and persistence. In his best efforts, before 
the court or in Congress, he exhibited a mastery of the sub- 
jects he discussed. As a citizen we shall miss his stately form 
on all public occasions. As a member of the bar we shall miss 
him in the court room, where he was jealous of his rights and 
contended for them with all his native force, eloquence, and 
tact. He had his faults, which is the common lot of all. Who 
has none?" 

By Hon. Everett Fletcher. 

" I have known Mr. Benton from my earliest childhood. 
For nearly thirty years I resided within a stone's throw of his 
home, and for nearly twenty years I occupied offices in the 
same building with him. During the last twenty-two years, 
since I have been a practicing lawyer, my association and in- 
timacy with him have been almost as close as is possible be- 
tween business men and lawyers in the same village. No one 
who knew Mr. Benton as intimately as we who are assembled 
here to-day, will deny that he was a man of great natural abil- 
ity. We all know that he did not devote himself so exclusively 
to the law as many of us do. He was a farmer, a banker, a busi- 
ness man, in addition to his practice. I have no doubt but if 
he had devoted himself as entirely to the study and practice of 
the law as some who are present here have during their life- 
time, he would have been numbered among the most distin- 
guished jurists and advocates which New Hampshire has 
produced. When I say that he had not devoted himself so en- 
tirely to the study and practice of the law as many here, I do 



tyis 2DescenDants 



231 



not mean to be understood to say that he was not a formid- jacob 
able man in his profession and an advocate of unusual power, benton 
I do not believe in extreme eulogy, but I feel that it is always ^fli 
proper for us who have known intimately our departed friends 
to attest what we honestly and fairly can as to whatever was 
worthy and deserving of imitation in their qualities of mind 
and heart. 

"No one could be a better neighbor; nobody could be a 
more delightful companion socially than Mr. Benton. For four 
years he represented the State of New Hampshire in the 
national House of Representatives, and I know from those 
who were associated with him that he took high rank for a 
man who had so short a time to equip himself for the duties 
of a legislator. 

"There was one thing that I have seldom heard mentioned, 
but which I always observed in Mr. Benton's mental make- 
up, and that is that while he did not have the advantages 
that many have to acquire a thorough academic education, 
he keenly and discriminatingly appreciated everything that 
was beautiful in literature. Mr. Benton's main source of 
strength, however, lay in the assurance and energy of his 
convictions, and in an almost unrivalled power of forceful 
and impressive statement and argument. These qualities he 
displayed not only in forensic contests in the courts, in which 
of late years he was not very frequently engaged, but in a 
marked degree in conversation upon the political questions 
dividing the country, in which he manifested to the end of 
his life an intense interest. 

"Among the distinguished advocates and jurists which 
this Bar has numbered during the last half-century among 
its members, Mr. Benton was a unique and commanding 
figure. Among the public men and legislators of which this 
county has given to the counsels of the State and nation more 
than its full share, he was one of the foremost. He was a 
typical product of New England civilization and New Eng- 
land institutions. 

"No man of so a&ive and restless temperament as Mr. 
Benton, could have passed through life without committing 
some errors, without making some enemies. 






w Samuel £>taDe Benton 



1814 



jacob "You all know the tragic circumstances of his death: — 

"Along the streets one day with that swift tread 
He walked, a living king — then — l he is dead. 
The whisper flew from lip to Up, while still 
Sounding within our ears, the echoing thrill 
Of his magician's voice we seemed to hear 
In notes of melody ring near and clear. 

"So near, so clear, men cried, i It cannot be! 
It was but yesterday he spoke to me; 
But yesterday we saw him move along, 
His head above the crowd, swift-paced and strong, 
But yesterday his plan and purpose sped; 
It cannot be to-day that he is dead.' 

" A moment thus, half dazed, men met and spoke, 
When first the sudden news upon them broke; 
A moment more with sad acceptance turned 
To face the bitter truth that they had spurned. 
Friends said through tears, t How empty seems the town/' 
And warring critics laid their weapons down. . 

" How at the last this great heart conquered all 
We know who watched above his sacred pall — 
One day a living king he faced a crowd 
Of critic foes ; over the dead king bowed 
A throng of friends who yesterday were those 
Who thought themselves, and whom the world thought, foes." 

By Hon. C. B. Jordan. 

"I am in hearty sympathy with the sentiments already ut- 
tered by the brethren of the bar concerning the life of Hon. 
Jacob Benton. I have long regarded him as a remarkable man 
in many ways. He was a giant physically and intellectually. 
Not one man in ten thousand was so well equipped by nature 
for the battles of life as was he. Over six feet high, he towered 
above the ordinary man in stature, in force, and in mental vigor. 
He came of a strong race. He was born well. His mother was 
one of those strong Green Mountain women who imparted to 
her children something of her unimpaired strength of body 
and mind, and after their birth, excellent moral and spiritual 
training. Of her boys there were Reuben, Jacob, Josiah, and 
Charles — all talkers, strong and forceful in argument, sense, 



tyte SDescenDants ^ 

and knowledge of men and affairs. And the next generation jacob 
of Bentons exhibit the same traits and characteristics. There benton 
are Clark of Minneapolis, and his brother who so suddenly £f*£, 
died last year in the same city, and Josiah H., Jr., of Boston, 
most excellent lawyers. Jacob, though born in August, 1814, 
was more erect in form and figure the day of his death than 
most men at fifty. . . . 

"It has been said here that he was not a learned man; that 
he had not the benefit of a college course, yet I find he was at 
Peacham and Lyndon academies, and then teaching at Con- 
cord, Vermont. He always expressed himself at the bar and 
elsewhere in choice language, with great force and clearness. 
He had an appreciation of poetry, literature, and art. . . . We 
have many monuments of this in the town where he lived fifty 
years lacking one. . . . Whoever met him met a foe worthy of 
his steel. His resources were unlimited; his tact knew no bounds. 
While he was always positive, tenacious, and sometimes bel- 
ligerent, he had under all a great heart full of kindness for the 
unfortunate, and tenderness for the afflicted. Deep currents 
of religious feeling and sentiment found ample room under 
what sometimes seemed a harsh exterior of ambition and love 
of gain. I have often seen him bowed in grief over the sudden 
snatching away of the pearl of his heart, and the joy of his 
home. I have known him to give liberally of his money and 
sympathy to a neighbor who had lost his bosom companion. 
In his large soul was a place for gratitude, for kindness, and 
for the higher and better gifts and acquirements that go to 
make up a strong, noble character, as well as for the frailties 
of humanity which we all should be willing to forget against 
him whose lips are silenced by the cold touch of death." 

The following is an estimate of Mr. Benton by an emi- 
nent lawyer and public man who knew him long and well: 
"He was in person tall, well proportioned, erect, with a frank 
and open countenance. His candor and courage corresponded 
with his look. His law business was large, his methods were 
manly and straightforward. In conducting litigation he had no 
inclination for the technicalities and subtleties which are by 
some mistakenly deemed the indicia of a great lawyer. He 
preferred to trust to the intrinsic merits of his case, and to 



^34 



Samuel £>laUe Benton 



jacob meet his opponents in the open field, where no advantage was 
benton to be taken. In his forensic addresses he selected the strong 
t_^t points in controversy, and handled them with logical power 
and skill, calling to his aid a good-humored wit, which enliv- 
ened his speech and drove home his arguments and illustra- 
tions. His native shrewdness and knowledge of men seldom 
misled him as to what could be successfully attempted, and 
his never-failing tact enabled him to make the most of the 
mistakes of his opponent, while exposing himself as little as 
possible. Mr. Benton's powerful physique and prudent habits 
of life preserved his bodily and intellectual powers unimpaired 
to the last, and he was as capable of business at seventy-eight 
as in middle age." (Charles H. Bell, Bench and Bar of New 
Hampshire, p. 203.) 

The accompanying picture is from a photograph taken 
when he was in Congress about 1869, and is an excellent 
likeness. 

The following sketch of Mr. Benton's action in the State 
Legislature and in Congress is gathered from the legislative 
journals and records. 

In 1854, as a member of the New Hampshire House of 
Representatives, he served on the committee on towns and 
parishes. This was the session of the great controversy over 
the repeal of the Missouri Compromise. Franklin Pierce of 
New Hampshire was President, and of the five members 
from New Hampshire three had voted for the repeal, and 
two only against it. Both House and Senate as elected were 
supposed to be Democratic by a small majority, and Demo- 
cratic officers were elected in both branches, but early in the 
session, even before the appointment of committees, reso- 
lutions were introduced protesting against the repeal of the 
Missouri Compromise, approving the conduct of the two 
members who had voted against it, and condemning the 
conduct of the three members who had voted for it as be- 
ing "in opposition to the wishes of the people of the State, 
treacherous to freedom and the great cause of equality and 
human rights." At that time there was a vacancy to be filled 
in the United States Senate, caused by the death of Charles 
G. Atherton, and a Senator to be chosen for six years. The 




Jacob Benton 
1869 



tyis ^Descendants ^s 

Democratic candidates for this position were John S. Wells jacob 
of Exeter and Harry Hibbard of Bath, Hibbard being one benton 
of the members who had voted for the repeal of the Mis- ifii 
souri Compromise. The Republicans, as the opposition were 
then beginning to be called, forced the discussion of these 
resolutions before the time for election of Senators, and then 
succeeded in postponing the election of Senators from time 
to time, and finally when the election came on it was im- 
possible for the Democratic candidate to get more than one 
hundred and fifty votes in the House, while one hundred 
and fifty-five were necessary for election. Both Wells and 
Hibbard were chosen by the Senate, but the House, after re- 
peated votes and ballots, made no choice. 

Debate on the resolutions in the meantime continued, be- 
ing postponed from time to time for other business. The 
Democrats attempted to send the resolutions to a special 
committee, but this was defeated, and finally after about a 
month the resolutions were adopted by a small majority, 
and the House voted to postpone indefinitely the election 
of Senators. This result was accomplished, however, only 
by great effort and by the most careful organization, which 
was provided for by a committee of the Republican mem- 
bers, of which George W. Nesmith of Franklin was chairman 
and Jacob Benton was one of the most active members. In 
fact, Mr. Benton was so absorbed in this matter that I think 
he gave very little attention to other business, except to an 
endeavor to obtain the passage of an act to compel the At- 
lantic and St. Lawrence Railroad to build a branch of their 
road to Lancaster, as required by their original charter. He 
also opposed with success a bill favored by the delegation 
of representatives from Coos County for the removal of the 
shire town of that county from Lancaster to Northumber- 
land. 

In 1855 the Republicans had elected a majority of the 
House and the Senate, and there was no choice for gov- 
ernor, a majority being required. Mr. Benton was a member 
again and served on the judiciary committee, and as chair- 
man of a special committee on matter of petitions for the re- 
moval of the sheriff of Rockingham County, and on a special 



236 Samuel £>la&e Benton 

jacob committee to whom were referred resolutions proposed ap- 
benton proving the veto by President Pierce of the Collins appropria- 
if^t, tion bill. He appears to have been very prominent and active 
during the entire session. He voted for resolutions approving 
a grant by Congress of land for the benefit of the indigent 
insane of the several States. He again attempted to procure the 
passage of a bill to compel the Atlantic and St. Lawrence to 
build a branch to Lancaster. At this session a special com- 
mittee which had been appointed at the previous session, with 
authority to sit in recess and report the fads on this matter, 
reported. On this report there was a great controversy, but 
finally the matter was adjusted, as I understand, by the pay- 
ment by the railroad company of a sum of money to the town 
of Lancaster, a portion of which was applied for the benefit of 
the Academy, and the remainder applied to the building of 
a hotel, which was always understood to be due to the per- 
sistent efforts of Mr. Benton, who represented the interests 
of his locality. 

At this session the Republicans passed an address request- 
ing the Governor to remove from office all or nearly all the 
judges of the Court of Common Pleas, police justices, sher- 
iffs, solicitors,judges of probate and other Democratic officers, 
including even commissioners appointed to apportion the 
accounts of railroads partly in Massachusetts, and partly in 
New Hampshire. Mr. Benton favored all these removals and 
I think was recorded on every one of the numerous roll-calls 
during the session. 

In 1854 an act was passed to amend the charter of the 
city of Concord by giving it power to prohibit the use of in- 
toxicating liquors. This act the Governor vetoed on the 
ground that the Legislature had no power to prohibit the 
use of intoxicating liquors. Two hundred and fifty-one of the 
members voted not to pass the bill notwithstanding the veto, 
but Mr. Benton with four others voted in favor of the bill, 
being, as he said, clearly of the opinion that the Legislature 
had the power to prohibit such use if it desired. He also voted 
in favor of the passage of the act for the suppression of in- 
temperance, over which there was a great controversy, but 
which was passed. He voted for an act to remodel the judi- 



$is 2DescenDants 237 

ciary system of the State, which was passed, and the main jacob 
purpose of which was to get rid of the judges of the old courts, benton 
who were Democrats, and to get new courts with judges who l_^, 
should be Republicans. He was earnest in advocacy of the 
address for the removal of the sheriff, judge of probate, and 
register of probate of his own county, who, I believe, were 
all his personal friends, but were Democrats. The county it- 
self was largely Democratic, and the majority of the repre- 
sentatives from the county were Democrats. Their influence 
in the House was so great that the address at first failed of 
adoption, but it was introduced and passed in the Senate, 
and then Mr. Benton obtained a majority in the House to 
concur, so that the officers were removed. Of course these 
removals were all political and reflected only the intense par- 
tisanship of the time. 

In 1856 he was again a member from Lancaster and served 
on the judiciary committee. He appears to have been still 
engaged in his controversy with the Atlantic and St. Law- 
rence Railroad Company, and to have introduced a bill with 
reference to that road. He advocated and voted for removals 
of the few solicitors and other Democratic officers who were 
not removed by address in the previous year. He served on 
a special committee of one from each county to consider "the 
late acts of violence and bloodshed by the slave power both in 
the territory of Kansas and at the national capital." This, of 
course, referred to the assault upon Senator Sumner of Massa- 
chusetts and the border outrages in Kansas. It is interesting 
to note that at the same time that he was acting upon a com- 
mittee upon this matter in the New Hampshire Legislature 
his brother Reuben, as a member of the Senate in the adjoin- 
ing State of Vermont, was chairman of a committee upon the 
same subject. He also served as member of the special com- 
mittee upon the resolutions introduced in respect to the Mon- 
roe Doctrine, and the conduct of President Pierce in regard to 
relations with Great Britain and Denmark. He appears to have 
succeeded in having Republicans appointed as judge and reg- 
ister of probate for his county, for he presented petitions for 
an increase of their salary. He was also one of the active leaders 
of the Republicans in legislation and in debate. 



2 3 8 Samuel £>laDe Benton 

jacob One of the most closely contested matters of the session 

benton was an address for the removal of Charles Doe, then a young 
^+, lawyer and solicitor for Rockingham County. He was an 
earnest Democrat and had been assistant clerk of the Senate. 
The address was finally adopted, being passed by the Senate 
and concurred in by the House. Subsequently Mr. Doe be- 
came a member of the Republican party and served many 
years upon the Supreme Court, being for a long time chief 
justice. 

Mr. Benton took the oath of office as representative in 
the Fortieth Congress, on March 20, 1867, being presented 
by James G. Blaine, and he served during that Congress on 
the committee on private land claims, and the joint select 
committee on retrenchment. In the Forty-first Congress he 
served on the standing committee on agriculture, the com- 
mittee on invalid pensions, and the select committee on re- 
trenchment. His first act was to present a resolution on March 
30, tendering the "special thanks of the House" to General 
Sheridan for the removal of the attorney-general of Louisiana, 
the mayor of New Orleans, and the judge of the First District 
Court of New Orleans "from their respective offices, which 
they have disgraced, and the appointment in their places of 
men of character and loyalty, and that in this prompt and just 
action of General Sheridan the country has a guaranty that 
under his command the innocent will be protected, and the 
guilty punished, and the spirit of rebellion extinguished." 

In the contested election case from the Second Kentucky 
District, he opposed and voted against the report of the com- 
mittee on elections seating Mr. Brown, who had received 
about nine thousand votes, and in favor of seating a candi- 
date who had received about three thousand. In his speech 
he claimed that as a majority of those who had voted for 
Brown had been engaged in the Rebellion they ought to be 
treated as having been thereby disfranchised, and their votes 
not counted. In this debate he had a sharp passage at arms 
with his old and intimate friend, Judge Poland of Vermont, 
who took the other view, even going so far as to call Judge 
Poland to order for his language. The report of the com- 
mittee, however, was sustained, and Brown seated by a vote 



fyis 2De0cenDants ^ 39 

of 102 to 30, Mr. Benton voting in the minority. He also jacob 
advocated and voted for a bill placing additional persons, benton 
soldiers and sailors in the War of 18 12, upon the pension J_^j; 
list. 

December 7, 1867, Mr. Benton voted against the resolu- 
tion reported from the judiciary committee, that President 
Johnson be impeached. The resolution was defeated, 108 to 
57. Subsequently the committee on reconstruction reported 
a resolution of impeachment, for which Mr. Benton spoke 
and voted, and which was adopted February 24, 1868, by a 
vote of 126 to 47. 

January 28, 1868, he introduced a bill "to make partial 
compensation for expenses incurred in the prosecution of 
the war by providing for the taxation of national bonds." 
This was practically following the platform of the Repub- 
lican party in New Hampshire in the previous election. He 
advocated an amendment of the internal tax bill, increasing 
the proposed tax on real estate agents with an income of two 
thousand dollars from five dollars on each additional thou- 
sand dollars of income to ten dollars, saying: "It seems to 
me that the tax rate should be increased as the business in- 
creases. I think this is so plain that it requires no argument." 
But the amendment did not prevail. He also offered an 
amendment to the bill increasing the proposed tax on rail- 
road and other transportation companies from two and a half 
per cent to three per cent on their gross receipts, saying, it 
was notorious that there was no more profitable business in 
the country than that. There was quite a running debate upon 
this amendment, which he advocated very earnestly, but the 
amendment was not adopted. In the contested election case 
from the Ninth District of Kentucky he again maintained 
his radical view that representatives chosen by voters who 
had been engaged in the Rebellion ought not to be seated. 
He advocated increasing the tax upon bank deposits, and 
opposed a tax upon bank circulation. He apparently took 
much interest in the bill for the refunding of the United 
States debt, and spoke in favor of provisions which he 
thought would confine the indebtedness as much as possi- 
ble to the United States, saying that it was better for the 



2 4 o Samuel £>iaDe Benton 

jacob government to owe five billions to its own citizens than one 
benton half that sum to persons in foreign countries, "for the pay- 
JvH ment of interest on a foreign debt draws out of the country 
the very life-blood of our currency." 

He earnestly opposed, and in a very effective argument, 
the claim that the government should tax its bonds in the 
hands of foreign holders by deduction of the tax from the 
interest as paid, which was advocated by General Butler, 
then a member from Massachusetts, and by General Logan, 
then a member from Illinois, saying: "The government has 
issued its obligations to pay a certain amount of money and 
a certain rate of interest, and now it is maintained by the 
gentleman from Massachusetts (Mr. Butler) and other gen- 
tlemen that we can turn round and say to the foreign credi- 
tor (this is the plain English of it), we will pay you a portion 
of the interest, but another portion we will deduct and call 
it a tax. The gentlemen may think they are going to make 
a good deal of popularity out of such propositions, but if I 
am not greatly mistaken the high sense of honor which has 
always distinguished the American nation, will never coun- 
tenance any such picayune repudiation. If I believed that 
we have a right to tax the foreign creditor I would vote to 
tax him, but I do not believe any such thing. Some gentle- 
men may attempt to make capital out of propositions such 
as that before us, but I would not for the sake of saving to 
the government tens or hundreds or thousands of millions 
sacrifice the honor, the integrity, the high standing of this 
government before the nations of the world. I believe that 
for every single cent we gain by sacrificing our national honor 
we lose immensely, immeasurably. I do not believe in any 
demagogical scheme. I believe in equal, just, and impartial 
taxation as far as we can; I do not believe in any repudiating 
schemes." He advocated a bill regulating the franking privi- 
lege, but opposed the bill to abolish it, saying that he thought 
any act to restrict or abridge the free intercourse between con- 
stituents and representative would be detrimental to the in- 
terest of the people. He advocated a law providing that no 
judge of the Supreme Court shall sit in the Supreme Court 
upon the hearing of any appeal or writ of error from any 



$10 ^Descendants ^ 

decree or judgment of a circuit court in which he had par- jacob 



ticipated as circuit judge, making a short but effective spe< 
in favor of it, concluding with the statement that "while there 
have been judges who have been foremost in overruling their 
own decisions, judges are but men after all." 

In the debate upon the census act he proposed an amend- 
ment extending the time for taking the enumeration from 
thirty days to three months, which was defeated. He also ad- 
vocated certain other amendments in regard to taking the 
census, calculated, he said, to make the enumeration more 
economical and accurate, but none of them were adopted. In 
the Forty-first Congress, in the debate upon the abolition of 
the franking privilege, he spoke in favor of the printing and 
circulating of the reports of the Department of Agriculture, 
saying that they were of great benefit in the agricultural dis- 
tricts, and that the distribution of seeds and of information 
through the Agricultural Department was in his judgment 
worth many times the cost of the franking privilege, but 
he said he was satisfied that although the House in the pre- 
vious Congress decided against the repeal, he should then 
vote for the repeal because he believed that the large ma- 
jority of the people called for it, and not because he believed 
their true interest demanded it. He spoke and voted against 
the seating of Mr. Booker, claiming a seat as representa- 
tive from the Fourth District of Virginia, upon the ground 
that he was disloyal and ought not to be permitted to take 
the test oath even if he wished to, but Mr. Booker was seated 
by a vote of 89 to 72. He earnestly opposed a special bill 
for the pensioning of certain specified soldiers of the War of 
1812, the general bill for that purpose passed by the House 
in the previous Congress having failed in the Senate. He 
said among other things that he was in favor of general 
legislation upon the subject and not of special legislation, 
picking out here and there cases no more meritorious than 
many others. He also said: "I know that it is a very popu- 
lar hue and cry here to stand up and talk about pensions to 
soldiers. I have heard an honorable member of this House 
say that he has never voted against a pension bill. Now, he 
is acting on this floor as a representative, having charge of 



eech benton 
1814 



^ Samuel £>laUe Benton 

jacob the people's money, and he has no business to vote for any 
benton pension unless it is a just and meritorious case." 
^_^ He spoke against a proposition to amend the law so as to 

exclude all female clerks from the Departments, saying, "If 
any one expects to secure the passage of such a bill, I think 
he will find it a pretty large undertaking, — a very heavy 
job. Why? Because there are branches of business that fe- 
males can do better than men. There are female clerks who 
are more skilful in the execution of their duties than any 
man could be. In many cases women have more natural apti- 
tude and make better clerks. I undertake to say that where 
they can be employed in the public service more justly than 
men they will be employed, and I do not think the efforts 
of time-serving politicians will prevent it." 

February 19, 1870, he spoke at length in the committee 
of the whole on the state of the Union, upon consideration 
of the President's annual message, and severely arraigned 
the Democratic party for its opposition to the war and to the 
results of the war. He also spoke at length in opposition to 
extravagance, which he said then existed both in public and 
in private life, saying, "We have been living beyond our 
means as a nation and as individuals. The remedy is in in- 
dividual as well as national economy." He advocated reduc- 
ing the number of officers in the army and large reductions 
in the navy, saying that the "expenses incurred for squadrons 
all over the world are as useless as they are enormous. 
The North Atlantic, the South Atlantic, Pacific, Mediter- 
ranean, African, East and West India and home squadrons 
swallow up yearly millions of the people's money, and they 
are all for show and nothing more. The pretence of afford- 
ing protection to American commerce is false and fraudulent. 
The yearly cost of a single squadron is greater than all the 
property they have saved to the country since the foundation 
of the government." He discussed at length the financial 
situation of the government, advocating the protection of 
American industries for the benefit of American labor, and 
the exemption from taxation of articles of use and necessity, 
with increased taxation upon articles of luxury. This speech 
was widely circulated as a campaign document by the National 



$(0 SDescenDants * 43 

Republican Committee. In this speech he alluded in reply jacob 
to questions from Mr. Niblack, one of the Democratic lead- benton 
ers, to the fact that Mr. Voorhees, then a member from In- ^fii 
diana, had been a member of the Knights of the Golden Cir- 
cle, a secret treasonable political organization in Indiana; and 
the next day after the speech was delivered M r. Voorhees called 
attention to this charge, and denied it, and when Mr. Benton 
produced a report of Judge Advocate General Holt, from the 
official files, showing the statement, Mr. Voorhees declared 
it was a false report, but Mr. Benton declined to withdraw his 
statement as made from the report, evidently believing the 
record to be correct. 

He also spoke in favor of a law reducing the number of 
special agents of the Treasury Department and against the 
bill of Mr. Jencks of Rhode Island to establish a civil ser- 
vice commission, saying, " My objection to this bill is that it 
takes power from the hands of the people to place it in the 
hands of a board of commissioners, and I hold that the more 
you remove power from the hands of the people the less demo- 
cratic your government becomes." He said further against the 
bill : " This bill is offered as a grand panacea to remedy all the 
evils with which the body politic is afflicted by the mal-admin- 
istration or mismanagement of the civil affairs of the govern- 
ment, and I consider it wholly inadequate to accomplish the 
ends for which it is recommended. No competent business 
man would adopt such a Utopian scheme as this for the pur- 
pose of determining the qualifications of the men he should 
employ, and the qualifications for office in the public service 
are just the same, and nothing more or less, as the qualifications 
required for the various business departments of life. Again, 
the bill ignores entirely the principle that the administration 
that has been elected to power shall have the opportunity to 
surround itself with its friends, not on the principle that f to the 
victors belong the spoils,' but upon the principle that the admin- 
istration shall appoint to sustain its measures those friendly to 
it and desirous to render it successful. I regard this scheme as a 
cunningly devised one for the purpose of keeping men out of 
office unless they belong to a particular, select, favored class, and 
of keeping men in office who have once secured positions." 



*44 Samuel S>taDe Benton 

jacob Upon the bill to grant pensions to the soldiers and sailors 

benton of the War of 1 8 1 1 he spoke against an amendment provid- 
^_^ ing that pensions should be given to persons who had acted 
in hostility to the United States during the Rebellion, but 
in favor of the bill, saying: "This measure failed two years 
ago to pass the Senate on the ground, I suppose, that it would 
cost something. Now, I have no sympathy with those men 
who would refuse pensions because they would cost some- 
thing, nor have I any sympathy with that class of men, some 
of whom I see around me here, who would vote anything 
that is called a pension for a soldier. I would not grant pen- 
sions indiscriminately to men who served their country and 
to those who fought against it. I would make a distinction 
in favor of those who did not exert their influence against 
the government. That class of men I would pension, although 
they were within the limits of the rebellious States. But I 
would not indiscriminately pension men who fought to sus- 
tain the flag and men who fought against it, or whose influ- 
ence at home was equivalent to taking the field in opposi- 
tion to the government." He spoke in favor of retaining 
the income tax, to the end that the indebtedness of the gov- 
ernment might be paid within a reasonable time, saying: 
"It is a tax in my judgment more equitable and just than 
any other tax that is imposed in the whole catalogue of in- 
ternal taxation. . . . There is no class in this country so well 
able to pay the tax imposed by the authority of Congress 
as those who pay the income tax. The repeal of this income 
tax will reduce the amount collected to carry on the govern- 
ment and to pay the national debt by over thirty million 
dollars. Now, that amount devoted to the liquidation of the 
national debt would enable the government, in a compara- 
tively short period of time, to extinguish the national debt 
altogether. . . . The gentleman from California says that we 
should lift the burden from the shoulders of the people by 
reducing taxation. I say that the best way to lift from the 
shoulders of the people the burdens they now sustain is to 
remove and extinguish entirely the debt which is the great 
cause of those burdens. ... In what condition is this nation 
to-day to settle any difficulties that may arise, or to deal with 



$is ^Descendants ^ s 

any insult that may be given to our national flag by any jacob 
foreign power? Weighted down, crushed down, as we are, benton 
by a debt of two billion five hundred million dollars, we should LJ^ 
have to pocket the insult as we did the insult offered to us 
by England during the war. We shall have no disposition 
to increase the debt by another war." 

H e advocated the appropriation of forty-five thousand dol- 
lars for the improvement of the Connecticut River, to be 
expended in equal proportions in Connecticut, Massachusetts, 
and New Hampshire. He advocated also a law to provide 
for free banking upon a deposit of national bonds and re- 
demption of bank circulation in gold. He spoke in favor of 
the bill to provide a national currency and equalize the dis- 
tribution of circulating notes, and upon being asked if he was 
in favor of a gold currency then, said: "I am now, and at 
all times, as a basis. I am in favor of gold money and of 
paper convertible by the holder at his pleasure into the same; 
not rags, but redeemable paper. The people out West say they 
want more currency. If they had anything which would com- 
mand these greenbacks they would get them in Chicago just 
as well as they would get them in New York or Boston. This 
proposition to issue more national bank notes, or more green- 
backs, in order to inflate the currency and to supply what 
is needed out West, is, it seems to me, the most arrant non- 
sense that ever entered the minds of sensible men." Upon 
being pressed with questions as to whether he was in favor 
of greenbacks he said: "I think it was justifiable for the 
government to issue greenbacks as a war measure. They are 
a sort of forced loan with no security but the faith of the 
government. I want them redeemed now, or as soon as prac- 
ticable, without sacrificing the business and laboring interests 
of the country, but I would have some time when the gov- 
ernment should resume specie payments, when we should 
get somewhere near the reality of things, when we should 
approach what sensible business men sometimes call 'hard 
pan.' We have been floundering long enough, like a man in 
a balloon, afraid to approach the ground for fear of a col- 
lapse." 

Mr. Benton also made a very earnest speech against the 



* 4 6 Samuel SlaDe Benton 

jacob right of Mr. Booker to hold his seat from Virginia, on the 
benton ground that he had been a judge under the Confederate gov- 
l_^t ernment, and had voted and contributed money in aid of the 
Rebellion, saying that it was impossible for a man to have 
done that and claim to have been loyal. This was in opposi- 
tion to the report of the committee on elections by Mr. Brooks 
of Massachusetts. In this debate Mr. Benton appears to have 
led the opposition to the report of the committee, and in a 
very effective manner, putting the oath which Mr. Booker had 
taken as a judge to support the Confederacy side by side with 
the oath which he had taken as a member, that he had not 
been engaged in the Rebellion, or given aid or comfort to the 
enemies of the government. 

In February, 1869, he spoke in favor of a resolution de- 
claring that the manner of procedure of the President of the 
Senate in counting the vote of Georgia for President in obe- 
dience to the order of the Senate only, was an invasion of 
the rights and privileges of the House. In 1871, he again at- 
tempted without avail to obtain an appropriation for the im- 
provement of Fifteen Mile Falls in the Connecticut River, 
saying that the commerce carried on the Connecticut was just as 
important as that carried by flatboats in the West. He opposed 
and spoke against a bill to increase the salaries of the judges of 
the Supreme Court from six thousand dollars to ten thousand 
dollars, but favored a smaller increase. 

His last public service was as a member of the Convention 
to revise the Constitution of New Hampshire in 1876. He 
served on the Committee on Judiciary Department and was 
influential in the Convention. He spoke at length only twice, 
once in favor of a constitutional amendment to limit the right 
of trial by jury in certain cases, and again in favor of an amend- 
ment to reduce the membership of the House and increase the 
membership of the Senate. He voted against proposed amend- 
ments for minority representation, and for the election of judges 
of probate by popular vote. 

The accompanying picture is from a photograph of Jacob 
Benton taken in Washington in 1868, and is an excellent 
likeness of him in his prime. 



Josiah Henry Benton 

1816 



Josiah Henry Benton 

1816 



JOSIAH HENRY, the fifth son and the ninth child of 
Samuel Slade and Esther (Prouty) Benton, was born at 
Waterford, Vermont, August 8, 18 16. His first name 
was a common name in the Benton family some generations 
before, and I think it was probably given him for that reason. 
The middle name of Henry was for his mother's mother, 
Mary Henry, a sister of Hugh Henry, of Vermont. 

He was about twelve years of age when his father moved 
to St. Johnsbury. He worked on the farm and attended dis- 
trict school until he was about seventeen, when his brother 
Samuel, then a student at Amherst College, being at home 
on a vacation, persuaded his father to allow him to take the 
boy back to Amherst with him, and he there attended school 
and taught a small district school during one winter near 
Amherst. November 13, 1831, when he was fifteen years of 
age, and during the great revival in St. Johnsbury, he was 
admitted to the North Congregational Church by profession. 

When his brother Samuel left Amherst and went to Mid- 
dlebury College in 1834, Josiah came back and taught the 
district school at Derby Line, also in Windham, and then at 
Strafford and in Barre, Vermont. In the meantime he attended 
school, I think at the Peacham and Lyndon Academies, and 
in 1838 attended the Burr and Burton Seminary in Man- 
chester, Vermont. He then taught school for three winter 
terms in Montpelier. He was a fine penman and taught writ- 
ing in the Concord, Vermont, Academy for a time. 

He was successful as a teacher and received twenty dollars 
a month for four months each term when he taught at Mont- 
pelier. This was then considered very high wages for "keeping 
school." His brother Jacob told me that he was very bright 
and much quicker to learn than he, Jacob, and he made rapid 
progress in his studies under the difficulties which surrounded 
him. He did not attempt to go to college, but studied theol- 



250 



Samuel £>IaDe Benton 



JOSIAH 
HENRY 
BENTON 
1816 



ogy with the Rev. Thomas Hall, pastor of the Congrega- 
tional Church at Waterford. 

August 12, 1 841, he married Martha Ellen, daughter of 
David and Huldah Danforth of Walpole, New Hampshire, 
where she was born March 24, 1822. She was then teaching 
in Putney, Vermont, and they were married there by the Rev. 
Amos Foster. It will be observed that he was but twenty-five 
and she only nineteen years old when they were married. 

In May, 1842, he received a license to preach, the original 
of which I have, as follows: — 

AT a meeting of the Caledonia association held at Peacham 
May 4th 1 842 Mr. Josiah Benton was examined for li- 
cense to preach the Gospel, and it was voted that he be licensed 
to preach untill the meeting of this association on October next. 
Daniel Merrill Scribe 

t, 7 ** ,70 Thomas Hall Moderator 

reacham May 4m, 1842. 

The following October he was given a permanent license. 
I have also the original of that license, which was — 

AT a regular meeting of the Caledonia Ass. held at the 
house of the Rev. L. H. Stone in Cabot 06t. nth, 
1842, Mr. Josiah Benton, who had received from this Ass. 
a partial license to preach the Gospel, presented himself again 
before the body, to receive the regular form of license. The 
Association after consultation, & conversation voted that the 
usual Licensure be given to him to preach the gospel. The 
Ass. would recommend Mr. Benton to the Churches of our 
Lord & Saviour J. Christ, wherever God in his providence 
may call him. 
Attest Thomas Hall Scribe 

^ ,• no 70 R. C. Hand, Modr. 

Cabot Otl. nth, 1842. ' 

January 17, 1843, he was ordained by a council pastor of 
the Congregational Church at West Addison, known as "Ad- 
dison Corner," Vermont, and he preached there until January, 
1846, when the pastoral relation was dissolved by a council 
called at his request. 



tyis ^Descendants 251 

I have the original Minutes of the councils. josiah 

henry 
West Addison, Jan. 17" 1843 BENT0N 

IN compliance with letters Missive, a Council was convened - — ,— ' 
at the Parsonage to dismiss their present Pastor Rev. John 
M. Frasin, to examine and ordain Mr. Josiah H. Benton in 
the work of the Gospel Ministry. 

There were present, bearing credentials, 
Rev'd Josiah F. Goodhue, & Dea. Almon Wolcott, Shore- 
ham 

Rev'd Dana Lamb, & Br. Wm. Rockwood Bridport 
Rev'd S. L. Herrick, & Dea. I. N. Benedict Crown Point 
Rev'd James Meacham, & Bro. Wm. H. Coukey New 
Haven 

There appeared in behalf of the Church & Society Dea. 
D. V. Chambers, Bro. Oliver Dexter, Nathaniel Allis & 
George Evarts. 

The Council was called to order by Rev. J. F. Goodhue 
who was chosen Moderator & Rev. J. Meacham Scribe. The 
parties agreed to proceed to business in the absence of part 
of the Council called. The Rev. Mr. Frasin & the Commit- 
tee on the part of Church Society stated the reasons for his 
dismission, i. e. his health. After which the following Reso- 
lution was Unanimously adopted. Resolved that Rev. John 
M. Frasin be dismissed from his Pastoral relation to this peo- 
ple and be recommended to the churches as one every way 
worthy of their confidence. The Council received evidence that 
a call had been given by the Church & Society to Mr. J. H. 
Benton & had been accepted by him & that satisfactory pro- 
vision was made for his support. They also received full tes- 
timonials of Mr. Benton's church membership & his license 
to preach the Gospel. They then proceeded to examine him 
on his General education, his Religious experience, & his 
knowledge of Theology, after which they gave an unanimous 
vote of satisfaction with the examination, & to proceed to as- 
sign the parts for the ordination, which was done as follows: 
Invocation, Reading the Scrip, & Introductory prayer was 
assigned to Rev. Wm. H. Coukey, Sermon to Rev. S. L. 
Herrick, Consecrating prayer Rev. Dana Lamb, Charge to 



A' 



252 Samuel £>tatie Benton 

josiah Pastor Rev. J. Meacham Right Hand of Fellowship Rev. 

henry D. Lamb, Charge to the People Rev. J. F. Goodhue. Con- 

be nton eluding prayer, Rev. J. M. Frasin. Benediction by the Pastor. 

v_^_/ The Council adjourned to the Meeting house to-morrow 

at Eleven o'clock A. M. 

The Council met pursuant to ad. mt. when the exercises 
were performed as assigned & Mr. J. H. Benton was or- 
dained as Pastor of the Cong. Church of West Addison. 

Attest: J. F. Goodhue, Mod. 
J. Meacham Scribe. 

COUNCIL called by letters missive, at the instance 
of Rev. J. H. Benton, pastor of the Congregational 
Church in Addison, Vt. for the purpose of inquiring into the 
expediency of dissolving the pastoral relation existing between 
said church and pastor, met according to request at the house 
of the Pastor, on Tuesday, the 20th day of January, 1846. 
Members present from the churches, were 
From Middlebry Rev. Dr. Merrill DD. 
Rev. S. G. Cox. 
Bridport, Rev. Dana Lamb, 

Bro. Wm. Rockwood. 
Vergennes, Rev. Harvey F. Leavitt, 

Bro. D. C. Keeler. 
Crown Point, Deac. Reuben Smith. 
Rev. Dana Lamb was chosen Moderator. 
Rev. S. G. Cox Scribe 

Council was opened with prayer by the Moderator. 
I. It having been stated by Bro. Benton that since issuing 
letters calling the Council, the church had consented to unite 
with him, in referring the expediency of dissolving the pas- 
toral relation subsisting between them to the present council, 
it was voted that we hereafter proceed as a Mutual Council. 
1. A resolution was offered and adopted by the council to 
the effect following, viz. 

Whereas the Articles of Addison Consociation provide for 
the assembling of the "Consociation," in case of certain dif- 
ferences of opinion, between the pastor and a church, rather 
than the calling of a ex parte council — therefore 
Resolved that in all such cases, it is deemed important 




tyis Descendants ^ 53 

always to convene the Consociation in preference to an ex josiah 
■parte council. 

3. Bro. Benton was then called upon to state his reasons for 
calling the Council, which were accordingly given. 

4. The Committee of the Church then made a statement: 

5. Inquiries were then made both of the Pastor and the com- 
mittee of the church and answers given, after which it was 
voted that the Council be by themselves. 
It was voted after deliberation and consultation, that the pas- 
toral relation existing between the Rev. J. H. Benton and the 
Congregational Church & Society in Addison be and hereby is 
dissolved; and that nothing appearing against the moral char- 
acter of Bro. Benton he be recommended to the churches, as a 
minister of Jesus Christ in good and regular standing. 

By vote of the Council the minutes were accepted. 

Dana Lamb Moderator 

~ i7 r S. G. Cox Scribe 

Jan. 20th, 1846. 

After leaving Addison he preached at Northfield, Ver- 
mont, and September 19, 1846, the Congregational Church 
there voted "to employ Rev. J. H. Benton for one year from 
the time he commenced his labors here provided we can raise 
such a salary as he will accept." 

The limited resources of the church and the small com- 
pensation of ministers at that time are shown by the follow- 
ing record of the action of the church. 

AT a meeting of the church Jan. 12, 1847 
Xx. 1 st. Voted to give Rev. J. H. Benton a call to become 
their settled pastor, provided a sufficient Salary can be raised 
for his support. 

2nd. Voted to raise a committee of three to circulate sub- 
scription papers for the above object. 

3d. Voted the Standing Committee of the Church said com- 
mittee, and also to extend to Mr. Benton a call in behalf of 
the church, if it shall be found practicable. 

4. Voted to adjourn to the 2nd day of Feb. next at one 
o'clock P. M. 

Feb. 2, 1 847. Church met pursuant to adjournment. Voted 



254 Samuel £>iaDe Benton 

josiah to extend a call to Rev. J. H. Benton to become the settled 
henry pastor of the church, and the church obligate themselves to 
^g™ N pay him a yearly salary of four hundred dollars. Provided he 
v-v— / take the risk of one hundred dollars from the domestic Mis- 
sionary Society, and should the church fail after a reasonable 
effort to make out the four hundred dollars as above they may 
have so far as may be necessary, the benefit of a yearly pas- 
toral visit at a fair estimated value. 

I certify that the foregoing is a true extract from the rec- 
ords of the church. 

Northfield March 22, 1847. J ' L ' ^^ C/ ^ 

The four hundred dollars was subscribed and February 2, 
1847, the church voted to "extend a call to Rev. J. H. 
Benton to become the settled pastor." March 24, 1847, ne 
was installed as the pastor of the Congregational Church at 
Northfield with a salary of four hundred dollars from the 
church and one hundred dollars from the Home Missionary 
Society. He then had a wife and two young children, and on 
this small salary with no other resources he settled in North- 
field and bought a pretty cottage, which I well remember, in 
the village. My parents lived the plain, frugal life of the time 
in Vermont. My father kept a good horse and had a large 
garden which he cared for and cultivated with his own hands. 
My mother did the household work and cared for her chil- 
dren with only occasional outside assistance. Their house was 
simply but sufficiently furnished, their fare was plain but 
wholesome, they dressed themselves and their children and 
entertained their friends suitably for their station in life, and 
yet by close economy lived well within their income. 

The church was composed of members who were strict in 
their views as to the proper walk and conduct of church mem- 
bers, as is shown by the following record, a copy of which, 
certified at the time by my father as clerk, I have. 

AT a regular church meeting the following complaint was 
±\. presented to the church by Dea. S. Denny; Whereas 
brother Samuel Denny, Hiram Dwinnell, & others, mem- 
bers of the Congregational ch. in Northfield Vt. feel aggrieved 



BENTON 
I8l6 



tyis ^Descendants *ss 

with brother J. L. Buck & his wife, sister Mary Ann Buck, josiah 
for having participated in a dance holden in celebration of henry 
President Harrison's Inaugeration in the year 1841; &: 
whereas the subject was once informally brought before the 
ch. & dismissed in consequence of such informality without 
having produced the desired results; & whereas they continue 
to advocate the right & propriety of church-members par- 
ticipating in such amusements, to the great injury, as we be- 
lieve, of the ch. & the cause of Christ in this place; there- 
fore we feel it a duty, imposed upon us by our covenant ob- 
ligations, as well as from an earnest desire to promote their 
spiritual welfare, to take the course with them prescribed in 
the 18 chap, of Matthew. 

Signed Samuel Denny 

Northfield Mch 2 3 d 1848. HlRAM DwiNNELL 

A true copy J. H. Benton Clerk. 

For the benefit of the few who may not be familiar with 
the Scriptures the passage referred to is printed: — 

'"''Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and 
tell him his fault between thee and him alone : if he shall hear 
thee, thou hast gained thy brother. 

"But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two 
more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word 
may be established. 

" And if he shall neglecl to hear them, tell it unto the church : 
but if he neglecl to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an 
heathen man and a publican" St. Matthew xviii. 15-17. 

My father was a popular, or as it was then expressed, an " ac- 
ceptable" preacher and earnest and active in his profession. 
In May, 1849, when he was only thirty-two, he was chosen 
by the General Convention of the Congregational Churches 
of Vermont as its delegate to the General Convention of 
Michigan. As such he made a report, the original manuscript 
of which I have, as follows: — 

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Convention: 

IT affords me especial pleasure to be the bearer of the fra- 
ternal regards and Christian sympathies of the brethren and 



256 



Samuel £>taUe Benton 



JOSIAH 

HENRY 

BENTON 

I8l6 



fathers in Vermont to the brethren and fathers of Michigan. 
And this pleasure, I assure you, is not the less lively or ten- 
der, when I reflect that although I have traveled nearly a thou- 
sand miles since I passed from the extremest border of my 
own State, yet I find myself surrounded by what might not 
inappropriately be denominated an assembly of Vermonters. 
For, as I cast my eyes over this venerable body, I see many 
familiar faces — many the homes of whose early days, I am 
forcibly reminded, lie scattered among the narrow glens, over 
the rising hills, and on the mountain-tops of the Mountain 
State. And I trust I shall not be giving, what will be esteemed 
undue prominence to this thought, if I add, that the breth- 
ren at home, whom I have the honor this day to represent, 
feel a sincere and ardent pleasure — or rather I should say 
a deep and holy joy, as they remember that these sons of 
Vermont "went out from us" not "because they were not of 
us" but that they might establish, not here alone, but every- 
where throughout the rapidly rising settlements of the infant 
West those pure principles that were passing dear to New 
England sainted dead — That they might found churches, 
patronize schools, and give permanence and security to the 
elements of a stern and austere morality — the morality of 
the Puritans, so much railed at, and yet so much above ridi- 
cule: It was that they might by their disinterested zeal and 
self-denying labors, prove themselves worthy of that exalted 
ancestry to which you and I, and all other good men asso- 
ciated with us in these labors of love, bear one common and 
precious relation. It is this view of the case which reconciles 
us to the withdrawal of so many of our best forces from the 
field in Vermont. We reflect that what is our loss, in this 
particular, is your gain. 

The number of churches in Vermont is 189; of these 35 
are destitute; whole number of members 19635. Number 
of ministers, including superannuated, presidents of Colleges, 
and preceptors of Academies, 211. Of these 97 are pastors, 
53 stated supplies, and 61 unsettled. During the year ending 
June, 1848, there was a decrease of members in the Congre- 
gational churches of Vermont to the amount of 177. Though 
the statistical report for 1849 nas not Y et been made out, 



i^ts 2DescenDants 



257 



still, from the best data that I have been able to obtain, I am josiah 
of the opinion that the net decrease of the last year, over and henry 

■"iNTOF 

1816 



above the net increase, will be more than counterbalanced by ] 
the fruits of the still, unobtrusive, and effective revivals that 
have prevailed to an encouraging extent during the past win- 
ter. During the last 4 or 5 months God has seemed to be in 
his churches in a manner essentially different from what has 
been experienced for many years past. The revivals appear to 
be characterized by unusual solemnity, by a ceasing from man, 
and a taking hold on God. The pastoral relation is becoming 
more permanent. Temperance has made commendable prog- 
ress during the past year. The various causes of benevo- 
lence have been well sustained. These churches, with slight 
exceptions, it is hoped are "maintaining the unity of the 
Spirit in the bonds of peace." At the present time there is 
unquestionably greater harmony of views prevailing, and 
greater similarity of practice, than has been known for many 
years past. Even in those churches which a few years since 
were deemed ultra, it is believed there is an increased dispo- 
sition to return, both in doctrine and practice, to the posi- 
tions and usages of former times — a vigilant inquiry after 
the old paths accompanied by an earnest desire to walk in 
them. There is also less asperity of feeling between the min- 
isters and lay members of these churches, and those belong- 
ing to other kindred denominations, than has ever been 
known during any period of our past history. It is thought 
that we are beginning to heed practically, to some extent at 
least, that vitally important precept, " See that ye love one 
another." And as we are not bigoted enough to claim that 
ours is the only true church, and therefore includes within its 
pale the whole body of true believers, we feel bound to rec- 
ognize & fellowship as disciples of Christ all who bear the 
glorious impress of his moral image on their hearts. 

In conclusion allow me to observe that it affords the Gen- 
eral Convention of Vermont great pleasure to receive dele- 
gates from this body, and " to hear of your affairs, that ye 
stand fast in one spirit, and with one mind, striving together 
for the faith of the gospel." Our prayer is, and shall ever be, 
that like as the pure waters of your own noble lakes extend 



258 



Samuel £>iafce Benton 



JOSIAH 

HENRY 

BENTON 

1816 



their favoring arms around you, so the great Being whom you 
serve may in all coming time throw around you the signal 
auspices of his most indulgent and constant care. 

While in Michigan he preached at Clinton, then a grow- 
ing town in the southern part of the State, and the people 
then wished him to become their pastor. He also met Rev. 
H. D. Kitchel, D.D., of Detroit, who strongly urged him 
to come to Michigan, and it was the following letter from him 
which finally caused my father to ask to leave the North- 
field Church. 

Bro. Benton, Detroit, July 18, i» 4 9- 

WHAT can have become of you? Have you forgotten 
Michigan? And Clinton? I have been waiting and 
wondering. Today comes a letter from J. Estabrook of Clin- 
ton inquiring after you, saying that they raised the $500. with 
no difficulty, and wrote you so at once, & felt very happy in 
the prospect of your speedy coming. Waiting, no preaching, 
&c. they are anxious to know what is the case. Mr. E. states 
that he shall write you again this week. His Letter may have 
failed. I feel more than ever that here is the field for you. 
The Lord gave you singular favor and acceptance with that 
people, and all of us ministers greatly desire your coming. 
The break-up would involve trouble for a time, but the mat- 
ter is of moment to justify it. 

Write us immediately, and to them also. 

One good hand has joined us, a Mr. Morgan of Conn, 
preaching at St. Clair. He is doing them good greatly. A 
New England minister can make a broad deep white mark 
here — worth a life to do it. Come — come over into Michi- 
gan and help us — and do not expect to sleep o' nights till 
you do — for we shall appear to you in visions, crying in your 
dreams, "Come!" 

Therefore Come. Write. Much love. 

H. D. Kitchel. 

He was dismissed from the church at Northfield by a 
council called for that purpose, September 7, 1 849, and went 
at once to Michigan. I was then six years of age and remem- 



tyis ^Descendants ^ 

ber well the long and tedious journey by rail to the Erie josiah 
Canal, then by the uncomfortable canal boat and lake steamer henry 
to Detroit and then by stage to Clinton. There were three B£ nton 
small children, — myself, my sister Ellen, nearly three years ^- y —> 
old, and my sister Mary, an infant in arms. I remember the 
tearful parting from friends in Vermont, who never expected 
to see us again, we were going so far away into the distant 
West. It was a weary journey for the frail young wife and her 
little ones, but Clinton was safely reached at last, and there 
my father was installed as pastor, October 24, 1 849. I have 
his original of the Minutes of the council, as follows: — 

COUNCIL convened in the Basement of the first Con- 
gregational Church in the village of Clinton on the 
morning of Wednesday October 24, 1 849, pursuant to Let- 
ters missive from said Church. The Rev. L. Smith Hobart, 
Pastor of the Congregational Church in Ann Arbor then 
read a letter missive convening the Council — the object being 
to install the Rev. J. H. Benton, late of Northfield, state of 
Vermont over said Congregational Church. 
Present Rev. L. Smith Hobart Pastor of Congregational 

Church in Ann Arbor. 

Rev. W. P. Wastell Pastor of Presbyterian Church in 

Clinton. 

Elijah Peck Delegate from Congregational Church, Ann 

Arbor. 

Charles Chandler Delegate from Presbyterian Church, 

Clinton. 

On motion, Voted that the Rev. W. P. Wastell act as Mode- 
rator and Charles Chandler Clerk of said Council. 

The Moderator then in accordance with usage opened the 
services with prayer. 

The Rev. D. M. Bardwell, Pastor of the Congregational 
Church in Grass Lake and the Rev. J. M. Van Wagner, 
Pastor of the Congregational Church in Litchfield being pres- 
ent, were invited in accordance with the wish of the Pastor 
elect and of the committee of said Congregational in Clinton 
as also by a Vote of Council to sit as members of said Council. 

The call to the Rev. J. H. Benton from the First Con- 



*6o Samuel £>IaDe Benton 

josiah gregational Church and Society in Clinton together with his 
henry acceptance of the same were presented and approved. 
BEI 1 T 9 N The result of Council dismissing him from his former Pas- 
*—, — > toral charge together with their commendation of him was 
then read and by vote of Council pronounced satisfactory. 

On motion of the Rev. D. M. Bardwell, Voted — that the 
Moderator conduct the examination of the Pastor elect as re- 
gards his Theological views &c. after which on motion of the 
Rev. L. Smith Hobart, it was voted that the examination of 
the Pastor elect be sustained, which motion was carried unani- 
mously. 

The following order of Exercises for the Installation of the 
Rev. J. H. Benton was then arranged viz: 

Invocation and the reading of Scripture by Rev. A. B. Dun- 
lap of Saline. 
Singing — by the Choir 

Prayer — by Rev. John Booth of the Baptist order 
Singing — 

Sermon by Rev. L. Smith Hobart 
Installing Prayer by Rev. W. P. Wastell 
Singing. 

Charge to Pastor by Rev. W. P. Wastell 
Right hand fellowship by Rev. D. M. Bardwell 
Charge to the People by Rev. J. M. Van Wagner. 
Singing. 
Benediclion by the Pastor — Rev. J. H. Benton. 

There being no further business before the council — the 
Rev. D. M. Bardwell in accordance with the request of the 
Moderator made the closing prayer, after which the Council 
was dissolved by a vote thereof. 

Charles Chandler, Clerk 

October 2, 1 849, my father purchased for %iioo a farm of 
eighty acres with a new square story-and-a-half house about 
half a mile from the church and the centre of the village. It 
was on slightly rising ground and there was a fine orchard and 
garden. It had been improved by an Englishman of some 
means, and a portion of the farm was cleared and cultivated, 
and fruits and flowers grew in great variety and profusion. But 



tyis 2DescenDants 261 

the country was full of malaria. Everybody had the ague, or josiah 
as they called it, "the shakes," and quinine, then taken in the henry 
form of powders, was an article of daily diet. We all, how- ben ton 
ever, after a time became "acclimated," but my mother was < — , — > 
frail and the care of her young family with the duties of the 
" minister's wife " broke down her health. She struggled bravely 
to keep up but was sick at heart for the hills of Vermont and 
the home of her childhood. 

When my father went to Clinton the " Plan of Union," or 
the union of Presbyterian and Congregational churches had 
still adherents in the West, and as there was a Presbyterian 
Church in Clinton it was proposed that they unite with the 
Congregational Church. He was opposed to this, but a ma- 
jority of the society favored it, and in May, 1851, the union 
was effected. I have before me the original Minutes of the 
council approving the union and dismissing the pastor. They 
are as follows: — 

AT a meeting held at Clinton, May 2,9th, 1 8 5 1 , of Minis- 
- ters and Delegates invited to remain after the close of 
the General Association of Michigan, by Rev. J. H. Benton 
and a Committee of the Congregational Church and Society 
of Clinton, for the purpose of acting as an Advisory Council 
in relation to the dismission of Rev. Mr. Benton from his 
pastoral office, there were present, 

Rev. H. D. Kitchel, of Detroit. 

Rev. Wm. W. Atwater, 

Rev. E. N. Bartlett, 

Rev. G. L. Foster, 

Rev. D. L. Eaton, 

Rev. James M. Van Wagner, 

Rev. L. Smith Hobart, 

Br. Munson Wheeler, 
Rev. George Barnum, 
Br. Amasa Converse, 



' Lima. 

1 Olivet. 

' Jackson. 

{ Farmer's Creek. 

' Litchfield. 

c Ann Arbor. 

c Ann Arbor. 

c Medina. 

1 Medina. 



Rev. G. L. Foster was chosen Moderator, and Rev. L. 
Smith Hobart, Scribe; after which the Council adjourned for 
tea. 

In the evening the Council convened and was opened with 



262 



Samuel £>IaDe Benton 



JOSIAH 

HENRY 

BENTON 

1816 



prayer. It was then stated to the Pastor and Committee that 
this Council was not to be regarded as an ecclesiastical body, 
not being convened by letters missive. The Pastor and Com- 
mittee declared their willingness to waive all informality or 
want of conformity to Congregational usage in the calling, 
and to accept the action of the Council as conclusive. 

Statements were then made by the Committee and by Rev. 
J. H. Benton, showing that a proposition had been made by 
the Presbyterian Church and Society, to the Congregational 
Church and Society, for an union of the two; that the propo- 
sition involved the preliminary condition of a dismission of 
Rev. Mr. Benton from his present pastoral charge, — and that 
the prospects of a cordial and permanent union were of the 
most promising kind. — There was also presented to the 
Council a written copy of the above named proposition, be- 
ing a Preamble and Resolutions unanimously adopted by the 
First Presbyterian Society of Clinton at their meeting held 
May 13th, 1851. 

After a full examination of the subject, and expression of 
views by the members of the Council, Rev. Messrs Kitchel, 
Hobart, and Foster, were appointed a Committee to prepare 
a Result of Council. After a short recess, the Committee re- 
ported the following Result, which was accepted and unani- 
mously adopted: — 

It is with mingled feelings of joy and grief that this Coun- 
cil learn the condition of things in which they are called to 
advise. On the one hand we learn with the sincerest plea- 
sure, the desire for union which has sprung up, and seems 
to pervade both the Presbyterian and the Congregational 
Church in this place. And we concur heartily in the convic- 
tion, to which the Spirit of Peace we trust, has led the mem- 
bership of these churches, that their religious comfort and 
spiritual prosperity, and the honor and prevalent power of 
the Gospel in this community, do call urgently for the union 
contemplated. And we pray and trust that a spirit of grace 
and wisdom will continue to prevail among the members of 
these churches, and of the societies connected with them, 
until a perfect and harmonious union, and all the fruits of 
peace shall be realized among them. And we would impress 



tyis ^Descendants ^ 3 

it on the members of the Congregational Church, as in our josiah 
apprehension, the high duty now devolved upon them, to henry 
carry out with singleness of heart the spirit of union and fra- be nton 
ternal tenderness, which seems to have prevailed hitherto. < — , — > 
And it is our prayer that the united body which is to result 
from this movement, may walk together in the fellowship of 
truth and godliness, with abundant blessing from the Head 
of the Church. 

On the other hand, we look with pain upon the necessity 
which seems to be involved in this movement that our be- 
loved Brother, the Pastor of this Church, should sacrifice the 
relation which he now holds. We sympathize with him in the 
unhappy interruption which this will occasion in his labors. 
But we feel constrained, after a patient hearing the case, in 
the points that seemed needful to a just conclusion, to con- 
cur in the conviction, expressed to us, both by him, and his 
church, that the high interests of the christian cause demand 
the sacrifice. We do therefore, as an advisory body, counsel 
to the proposed dissolution of the relation now existing be- 
tween him and this people. 

In coming to this result, the Council desire to testify their 
unabated confidence in Rev. J. H. Benton, as an able and 
faithful Minister of Christ, sound in the faith, and irreproach- 
able in his life. And in parting with him from the field in which 
he has here labored, and in which we have prized him as a be- 
loved fellow-laborer, we heartily commend him to the churches 
of our Lord, as worthy of their fullest confidence; and we 
hope in the Providence of God, he may speedily be placed 
in some other portion of this wide field. 

It was then voted that the Minutes of this Council be pre- 
served by the Scribe, and that a copy be left with the Clerk 
of the Congregational Church, and also with the Rev. J. H. 
Benton. It was also voted that the Scribe be requested to fur- 
nish the Independent and the N. T. Evangelist each with a 
brief notice of Br. Benton's dismission. 

The Council then united in prayer, and adjourned sine die. 

G. L. Foster, Mod. 
L. Smith Hobart, Scribe. 
Clinton igth. May, 1851. 



*6 4 Samuel g>ia&e Benton 

josiah This is a facsimile of his signature to the copy of the rec- 
henry ordofthe Northfield Church in 1848, found on page i$$ y ante. 

BENTON 
1816 





In 1 851 he was the delegate from the General Convention 
of Michigan to the General Convention of New York. I have 
his original report to the Convention, as follows: — 

Moderator and brethren of the Gen. Ass. of N. T. 

I HAVE been highly gratified during the few hours that I 
have been with you in listening to the interesting and in- 
structive reports that have been communicated from the dif- 
ferent localities that are here represented. I may say also 
without adulation or ostentation that I take especial pleasure 
in being the bearer of the fraternal regards and Christian 
sympathies of the brethren and fathers of Michigan to the 
brethren and fathers of New York. And though I am ad- 
monished by what I heard in this place yesterday from one 
of those white-haired men (Dr. Lansing) whom I delight to 
honor, that the appellation of father to the senior portion of 
the Christian ministry is not altogether in good taste in this 
latitude, yet the venerable brother — for I will so denominate 
him if the term be more agreeable — will pardon me when I 
assure him that this form of speech is employed not because 
I love the brethren less but the fathers more. I remember 
also that the pra&ice is sanctioned by apostolic precedent. 
"Though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ yet have 
ye not many fathers." I am, however, sir, still further ad- 
monished that this honorable appellative may seem inappro- 
priate when applied to any portion of the ministry of a state 
so recently settled as the one which I have the honor to here 
represent. Still, sir, there are from various causes fathers with 
us as well as with you. Some of these have been made such 
by the natural order of events, and some have been prema- 
turely made such by evidencing "hardness as good soldiers of 
Jesus Christ." Yes, brethren of the Empire State, to whom 
the lines of your earthly Zion have fallen in more cultivated 
and therefore in less exhausting scenes, it is well for you to 



tyis ^Descendants 



265 



know that there are brethren with us whose raven and auburn josiah 
locks have been suddenly bleached by being "in labors more henry 
abundant," and in some sense "in stripes above measure." B£ nton 
But, sir, although the work of the ministry in the newly set- < — , — - 
tied regions of our country is more laborious, yet is it not on 
that account less desirable in any light of which it is capable 
of being viewed. Not only is it a work of pressing impor- 
tance, nay, indispensable necessity, but, sir, it is a good work, 
and those of us who have the greatest obstacles to contend 
with, are far from being disheartened. Sir, of all other men, 
the Christian ministry have not, as it would seem, the great- 
est, but the least reason for discouragement. We labor, sir, 
not for the poor inducements of money and lands, or the vain 
rewards of popular noises and empty fame, but for the great 
stake of eternal life in the paradise of God. 

November 21, 1851, he was installed as pastor of the 
Congregational Church at Port Huron, Michigan, where he 
preached until October 24, 1853, when he lost his voice by 
bronchial trouble, and went back to his farm in Clinton. My 
mother was then in feeble health and October 8, 1855, she 
died and was buried at Clinton. He was left with a family of 
four children, the oldest twelve and the youngest less than 
two years old. March 28, 1856, he sold his Clinton place 
for $3800 and in the following summer went back to New 
England. 

November 9, 1856, he married Harriet Buxton, daughter 
of Nathaniel and Silence (Sawyer) Niles, at Newbury, Ver- 
mont, and in the winter of 1856-57 he preached in the Con- 
gregational Church at Orfordville, New Hampshire. 

But his health was not good and June 3, 1857, he pur- 
chased a farm in Bradford, Vermont, of his brother-in-law, 
Elisha Kinney, for $2250, and went there to live. He re- 
mained on this place as a farmer until December 17, 1864, 
when he sold the farm to Adams Wilson for $2800. He then 
exchanged another hill farm that he had bought of his father- 
in-law, Deacon Niles, in Newbury, for a large farm in Maid- 
stone, Vermont, known as the "Dr. John Dewey Place." For 
this he paid $10,000, which placed him in debt about $5000. 



^e Samuel £>iaDe Benton 

josiah In 1865 he moved to the Maidstone farm, where he lived 

henry and carried on his farm, gradually paying off his debt and 

BE ^g N building a house, barns, etc., until October 14, 1897, when 

■ — , — > he sold it to his son, Samuel Slade, and moved to a small 

place which he then purchased in the village of Lancaster, 

New Hampshire, where he now lives. 

August 17, 1 86 1, at the reception given by the people of 
Bradford, Vermont, on the return of the Bradford Guards, 
who had served as a company of the First Regiment of Ver- 
mont Volunteers under the call for three months' troops, he 
made the address of welcome. It was concise and appropri- 
ate, carefully written and memorized, and not read but spoken 
exactly as written. 

I have the original, as follows: — 

To the Bradford Guards: 

IT becomes my pleasant duty to address a few words of 
appropriate greeting and cordial welcome to our returning 
fellow-citizens, the Bradford Guards. 

Capt. Andross and your associates in command, together 
with the loyal and true men who have served under you; 
well do most of us who are assembled here remember the 
sentiments and sympathies which struggled in our breasts on 
the eve of your departure for the theatre of war. If on that 
occasion we had reason to be proud of the firmness of your 
tread and the manliness of your bearing, much more to-day, 
as we look upon your hardened frames and your counte- 
nances which have become bronzed in honorable service for 
the safety of the Republic. 

Citizen soldiers of the Mountain State, your safe return 
to us and with unbroken ranks save by the ordinary visita- 
tions of mortality, is but another illustration of that familiar 
maxim, "Fortune favors the brave!" Why should not all 
men be brave, disinterested, and self-sacrificing? Is there not 
a heartfelt pleasure in the remembrance of duties nobly met 
and well-performed? Nay, is there not a solid satisfaction in 
the present and prospective discharge of all honorable and 
useful service? Miserable must be the heart that has no sunny 
memories of childhood and home, no endearing recollections 



tyis ^Descendants *6 7 

of kindred and friends, binding them to their native land with josiah 
more than a common love of life! On the other hand, happy, henry 
thrice happy and honorable is the man whose heart is big BE j N g™ N 
and strong, and brave enough to peril its life as you all have < — , — - 
done in defence of home and country! 

At the commencement of this long-premeditated, deep-laid 
and extensive conspiracy for the overthrow of our govern- 
ment and the destruction of our liberties, while as yet there 
was no competent defence for the Capital nor the country, 
more fortunate than the rest of your fellow-citizens in the 
possession of some degree of military skill and knowledge, 
and animated by the same spirit which at the sublime open- 
ing of the Revolution pitted a handful of your country-men 
against the whole power of the British Lion, you at once vol- 
unteered your services till such time as an adequate military 
force could be raised and placed upon a permanent footing. 

Such a force has at length been constituted, and you, hav- 
ing served out the full term of your enlistment, have been 
honorably discharged; and it now remains only for me, de- 
puted expresslv for the purpose, to speak that welcome which 
we all feel. I announce your welcome ! You have already been 
welcomed bv methods more decisive and significant than any 
mere form of words can express. Else what means the re- 
iterated and continuous booming of the loud-mouthed cannon ? 
What do we signify by those incessant and prolonged cheers 
which have shaken the solid ground upon which we tread; 
and which are now only waiting for my poor words to cease, 
when they will ring out again in tones that shall echo from 
earth to heaven, and from heaven back again to earth ! Com- 
rades, in the name of that country whose flag you have con- 
tributed to uphold, I thank you for your valuable services, 
and again bid you welcome to your former homes and your 
waiting friends. 

He was a delegate from the town of Maidstone to the Con- 
stitutional Convention of Vermont, which met June 8, i 870. 

The Journal shows that his first act was to move to amend 
a resolution that the "President be requested to call on the 
clergymen delegates of this Convention to officiate as chap- 



268 Samuel £>IaDe Benton 



BENTON 
I8l6 



josiah lains of this Convention by rotation, commencing with the old- 
henry e st clergyman," by striking out all after the word " Resolved," 
and inserting "that the President be requested to invite the 
resident acting clergymen of Montpelier to officiate in rota- 
tion as chaplains of this Convention during its session." This 
amendment was adopted. On the proposed amendment that 
"private corporations should not be created nor their powers 
increased or diminished by special laws," he voted in the nega- 
tive, and the amendment was rejected. On the amendment 
providing for biennial sessions of the Assembly and biennial 
elections of State and County officers, he voted in the nega- 
tive. The first vote upon this amendment was 119 to 114. 
Subsequently upon a motion to reconsider he voted for the 
reconsideration, which was had by a vote of 1 1 8 to 1 1 6, but 
the amendment was again adopted by a vote of 1 1 8 to 115, 
Mr. Benton voting in the negative. 

On the amendment to provide that the judges of the Su- 
preme Court should be appointed by the Governor with the 
advice and consent of the Senate, Mr. Benton was one of two 
only who voted in the affirmative, the vote being 2 in the 
affirmative and 23 1 in the negative. On the amendment giv- 
ing the suffrage to women he voted in the negative, the vote 
being 1 in the affirmative and 233 in the negative. On the 
amendment abolishing the Council of Censors and providing 
that amendments to the Constitution should originate with 
the General Assembly, and that the power to impeach pub- 
lic officers should be given to the House of Representatives 
upon a two-thirds vote, he voted in the negative, the amend- 
ment being adopted by a vote of 123 to 85. 

This Convention rejected a resolution to appoint a steno- 
graphic reporter to take and report its debates, as appears by 
its Journal. 

He was of a scholarly disposition, but more inclined to 
close study of few books than research in many. He was a 
good Latin scholar and thoroughly read in the English clas- 
sics. He always had an apt quotation from the Bible, Virgil, 
Horace, Addison, Pope, Milton, or Shakespeare, to meet 
any occasion. He was quick in thought and speech, but an es- 
sayist rather than a debater. He was quite critical in the use 




Josiah Henry Benton 
1863 



tyis ^Descendants 



269 




of words and somewhat inclined to phrase-making, but withal josiah 
an easy and accurate writer and speaker. 

He wrote his set sermons on "sermon paper" with pains- 
taking care, and read them as written, which was then the 
custom in his denomination. But he also preached many ex- 
temporaneous sermons, as they were then called. The notes 
for these, however, were always carefully and neatly written 
out upon sheets of note paper stitched together. These notes 
he called "skeletons" and his "extemporaneous discourse" 
always faithfully followed the points and substance of these 
skeletons. 

In addresses and speeches he pursued the same course. 
Nothing was left to chance or to the inspiration of the mo- 
ment. I am inclined to think he would have been a stronger 
and more effective speaker if he had given himself more lati- 
tude of thought and expression. 

He was, however, a fluent, forcible speaker, of good pres- 
ence and voice, with excellent capacity to please and persuade. 

His political convictions were strong and he never hesi- 
tated to express them. He was an old-fashioned Whig, and 
had the greatest admiration for Clay and Webster. I well re- 
member his sermon on the death of Webster. It was from 
the text: "The chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof." 
But he was an earnest anti-slavery man, and severely con- 
demned Mr. Webster's "Seventh of March speech," in sup- 
port of the fugitive slave law of 1850, saying it was "not 
only a famous speech, but an infamous speech." In 1856 he 
made political speeches in Iowa and in Vermont, in support 
of General Fremont, the Republican candidate for President, 
and replied with what seems now to have been undue and 
bitter, but certainly most effective, language, to the criticism 
then made of "political priests," as the other party called 
all ministers who spoke and preached against slavery. 

The picture is from a photograph taken at Bradford, Ver- 
mont, about 1863. 

Josiah Henry and Martha (Danforth) Benton had the 
following children: — 

Thomas Henry, born July 4, 1842, at Waterford, Ver- 
mont; died July 5, 1842, at Waterford. 



270 



Samuel £>laDe Benton 



josiah Josiah Henry, Jr., born August 4, 1843, at Addison, 

henry Vermont. 

benton Martha Ellen, born December 7, 184c, at Addison, 
1816 Tr 7 u ' ^ J ' } 

> ,_ Vermont. 

Mary Isabella, born November 15,1 848, at Northfield, 
Vermont; died October 10, 1865, at Maquoketa, Iowa. 

Franklin, born June 1 o, 1 8 5 1 , at Port Huron, Michigan ; 
died August 26, 1852, at Port Huron. 

Robert Fuller, born February 26, 1854, at Clinton, 
Michigan; died November 12, 1865, at Maidstone, Vermont. 

Josiah Henry and Harriet (Niles) Benton have the fol- 
lowing children born at Bradford, Vermont: — 

Samuel Slade, born January 10, 1858. 

Harriet Maria, born February 3, 1859. 

Benjamin Butler, born June 24, 1863. 
And the following children born at Maidstone, Vermont: — 

Joseph, born December 7, 1866. 

Caroline Esther, born June 7, 1 870. 

Hugh Henry, born January 19, 1872. 

John Edwin, born May 14, 1875. 

Mary Edith, born September 3, 1878. 

Josiah Henry, Jr., married Josephine Emery, daughter 
of Richard Ransom and Emma (Heath) Aldrich, at Bradford, 
Vermont, May 19, 1866. She was born August 10, 1842, at 
Newbury, Vermont; she died April 8, 1872, at Bradford, Ver- 
mont, and is there buried. They had no children. 

He married second, Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Charles 
D. and Laurinda (Holbrook) Abbott, at Concord, New 
Hampshire, September 2, 1875. She was born February 22, 
1843, at Nashua, New Hampshire. They have no children. 

Martha Ellen married Charles Fisher, October 6, 1868, at 
Lancaster, New Hampshire. They have one child: — 

Mary Benton, born August 14, 1887, at North Haverhill, 
New Hampshire. 

Samuel Slade married Etta May, daughter of George Henry 
and Kate Emma (Sweet) Bean, December 8, 1897, at Lan- 
caster, New Hampshire. She was born January 17, 1879, at 
Maidstone, Vermont. They have two children, born at Maid- 
stone, Vermont: — 



tyis 2DescenDant0 271 

Esther Prouty, born September 7, 1898. josiah 

Gladys Marion, born March 2, 1900. henry 

Harriet Maria married George Albert Balch, son of George B£ nton 
Sherman and Mary Eliza (Glines) Balch, who was born Sep- « — <—> 
tember 27, 1855, on June 27, 1 881, at Maidstone, Vermont. 
They have no children. 

Benjamin Butler married Carrie Asenath, daughter of 
Sereno Dwight and Phoebe (Bartlett) Carlton, who was born 
at Lunenburg, Vermont, July 4, 1 865, on October 28, 1886, 
at Lancaster, New Hampshire. They have three children: — 

Paul Amasa, born November 19, 1887, at Guildhall, Ver- 
mont. 

Dwight, born June 25, 1893, at Guildhall, Vermont. 

Louise, born July 1, 1897, at Lancaster, New Hampshire. 

Joseph married Annie, daughter of Jonathan Steele and 
Abigail Haines (Hoyt) Chesley, who was born March 6, 
1864, at Epsom, New Hampshire, on October 16, 1895, at 
Concord, New Hampshire. They have no children. 

Hugh Henry married Mary Abbie, daughter of Charles 
Fitch and Eliza Dorinda (Winter) Morse, who was born at 
Atkinson, New Hampshire, May 16, 1873, on December 31, 
1 894, at St. Johnsbury, Vermont. They have two children : — 

Robert Hugh, born November 30, 1895, at St. Johnsbury, 
Vermont. 

Harold Morse, born August 22, 1897, at St. Johnsbury, 
Vermont. 



Susan Mabel Benton 

1818 



Susan Mabel Benton 

1818 



SUSAN MABEL, the tenth child and youngest daugh- 
ter of Samuel Slade and Esther (Prouty) Benton, was 
born April 1, 1 8 1 8, at Waterford, Vermont. Her mid- 
dle name, Mabel, was for her aunt, Mabel Benton Worces- 
ter, but I have not been able to ascertain why she was given 
her first name, Susan. When she was eleven years old her 
father removed from Waterford to St. Johnsbury, and I un- 
derstand she attended the common schools there and several 
terms at the Essex County Grammar School. 

January 12, 1840, she was admitted to the North Congre- 
gational Church at St. Johnsbury by profession. December 
23, 1 84 1, when she was twenty-three years old, she married 
Lawton Rockwell, who was born in Southwick, Massachu- 
setts, February 20, 18 17. They were married at St. Johns- 
bury, Vermont, but I understand Mr. Rockwell was then a 
travelling salesman, or engaged in mercantile pursuits of some 
kind, and lived in Boston, Massachusetts, where they at once 
went to live. Their children were: — 

Edwin Lawton Rockwell, born October 22, 1845, at 
60 Billerica Street, Boston, and who died April 20, 1 850, at 8 
Morton Place, Boston. 

Edwin Lawton Rockwell 2nd, born October 25, 1851, 
at 1 Tremont Place, Boston, and who died April 22, 1853, 
at 1 Tremont Place, Boston. 

Julius Benton Rockwell, who was born August 21, 
i860, at 74 Beach Street, Chelsea, Massachusetts. 

September 2, 1848, she was dismissed by letter from the 
church at St. Johnsbury to the Mt. Vernon Church, Boston, 
of which she afterwards remained a member. She was a bril- 
liant woman, much interested in music, having a fine con- 
tralto voice. In November, 1857, she wrote to her brother 
Jacob from Boston, saying among other things, " I am trying 



BENTON 

181 



276 Samuel £>Ia&e Benton 

susan very hard each day of my life to improve in music. I have a 
mabel Mr. Evarts, a German teacher." 

I saw her at her father's (my grandfather's) funeral at New- 
bury, Vermont, December 15, 1857, and remember well her 
striking appearance. She was large, handsome, well dressed, 
in the conventional black silk of the time, etc. She talked 
with me, and I very much admired her. 

The picture is from one taken after she was partially de- 
ranged, but which is the only one now to be found. 

I never saw her after that, but she grew worse and finally 
developed marked insanity, and September 13, i860, she was 
placed in an asylum for the insane, and has ever since been 
hopelessly deranged. 

This is a facsimile of her signature to a letter in 1857. 

After Mrs. Rockwell was placed in an asylum, her son, 
Julius Benton Rockwell, then the only child and a baby, was 
taken by his uncle, Jacob Benton of Lancaster, New Hamp- 
shire, who had no children. He kept him without formal 
adoption but expecting to bring him up as his own child. Un- 
fortunate differences arose, however, between the child's fa- 
ther and uncle, and in 1 867 or 1868, the child was retaken by 
his father. He was strikingly like his mother in appearance, 
and grew up a very handsome young man. January 6, 1880, 
he married Abigail G. Lynch at Boston. They had one child, 
Joseph Lawton Rockwell, born at Boston, January 4, 1881. 
They finally left Boston in 1882 or 1883 ; since when I have 
known nothing of their whereabouts. 

Her husband was in the produce business in Boston for 
many years, but finally became reduced in circumstances and 
was admitted to the Aged Men's Home, Boston, February 
23, 1 896, where he died September 23, 1 898. He was buried 
at Westfield, Massachusetts, by Mrs. F. A. Latimer, his niece. 







Susan Mabel Rockwell 
1859 



William Chauncey Benton 

1820-1859 



William Ghauncey Benton 

1820-1859 



WILLIAM CHAUNCEY BENTON, the sixth 
son and the eleventh child of Samuel Slade Ben- 
ton and Esther (Prouty) Benton, was born at Wa- 
terford, Vermont, April 19, 1820. His middle name was for 
his uncle, Chauncey Benton of Hartford, Connecticut. He was 
eight years old when his father removed from Waterford to 
St. Johnsbury. He attended school in St. Johnsbury and also, 
I think, the Peacham and Lyndon Academies. He early de- 
veloped a capacity for music, both vocal and instrumental. As 
early as 1839, when he was nineteen years old, he appears by 
a letter to his parents to have been engaged in carrying on a 
series of singing schools in Montpelier and vicinity, and the 
letter indicates that he had previously taught singing schools 
in that part of Vermont. He states that he had "five schools 
a week at two dollars and found per night," by which I sup- 
pose he means his expenses paid. 

He studied medicine at the medical school at Castleton, 
Vermont, and July 8, 1846, he married Lucretia Minerva 
Hill, daughter of Joel and Lois (Munson) Hill, ofWalling- 
ford, Vermont. They lived in Wallingford for several years, 
and their first child, Florence, was born there September 2, 
1849. They then moved to Burlington, Vermont, and their 
second child, William Hill, was born there April 28, 1854. 
He removed in 1857 to Wisconsin, and settled at Beloit, where 
he lived until his death April 23, 1859. His wifeinherited what 
was then regarded as a large fortune, and he never practised his 
profession. He was not successful in the management of prop- 
erty, however, and when he died most of the property had 
been lost. He left no will and little property of his own. 

His widow resided in Beloit until about 1871, when she 
went to Hastings, Minnesota, to live with her daughter Flor- 
ence, who was then Mrs. I sham. She died and was buried at 
Hastings, Minnesota, March 1 9, 1 872. 1 never saw my Uncle 



28o 



Samuel SlaDe Benton 



CEY 

BENTON 
1820 



william William, but I remember when he and his wife went West, 
CHAUN- and hearing the matter discussed in the family. He expected 
to increase their property by investment in Western lands, 
and I think a considerable portion if not all of his wife's prop- 
erty was thus invested before the panic of 1 857. At all events, 
most of the property was lost by investment in land, and his 
widow was left with limited means. 

They had two children: — 

Florence Alena, born September 2, 1 849, at Wallingford, 
Vermont. 

William Hill, born April 28, 1854, at Burlington, Ver- 
mont. 

Florence Alena married Frank D. Ishamat Beloit, Wiscon- 
sin, November 14, 1868. He was engaged in business at Has- 
tings, Minnesota, and subsequently lived at Delevan, Wis- 
consin. Some time after 1875 he and his wife were divorced. 
Florence inherited the musical ability of her father, and she 
then supported herself and child by teaching music. December 
23, 1883, she married Edward W. Jenks of Chicago. They 
now live at Edgewater, which is a suburb of Chicago. She has 
only one child, Edgar Benton Isham,whowas born at Wilmar, 
Minnesota, April 1, 1873, ano ^ now ^ ves * n Chicago. 

William Hill Benton married June 17, 1889, at Milwau- 
kee, Wisconsin, Emma Viola Hedden,who was born at Lodi, 
Michigan, March 28, 1849. They have no children and now 
live in Denver, Colorado. 

This is a facsimile of William Chauncey Benton's signature 
to a letter written in 1855. 




The picture is from a daguerreotype taken about 1855. 




William Chauncey Benton 
1855 



Charles Emerson Benton 

1825-1892 



Charles Emerson Benton 

1825-1892 



CHARLES EMERSON BENTON was theseventh 
son and the twelfth child of Samuel Slade and Esther 
(Prouty) Benton. He was named for his Cousin 
Charles, a son of his Uncle Chauncey. 

He was born at Waterford, Vermont, December 11, 1825, 
and was a child of between three and four years when his 
father moved to St. Johnsbury. When his father moved to 
Lancaster, New Hampshire, Charles was about seventeen 
years old. He was educated at the public schools in St. Johns- 
bury and at the St. Johnsbury Academy. In the fall of 1 844, 
when he was nineteen, he attended St. Johnsbury Academy, 
going there from Lancaster, where his father lived. 

He remained with his father on the farm at Lancaster un- 
til it was sold and his father went to Newbury in 1 847, when 
he was twenty-two, and he went with his parents, being the 
only child then at home. He there lived with them unmar- 
ried until October 21, 1856, when he married Adda, daugh- 
ter of Abner and Mary (Haseltine) Chamberlin of Newbury, 
Vermont. November 6, 1856, he bought of his father the 
place at Newbury, where his father and mother and he 
lived. After the death of his father in 1857, his mother went 
to live with her eldest daughter, Mrs. Stoddard, at Waterford, 
Vermont, and Charles and his family remained on the place at 
Newbury until April, i860, when he sold the place and re- 
moved to Guildhall, Vermont, where he purchased a farm on 
the river road, north of the Lancaster toll bridge, known as 
the Dennison farm. Here he lived and carried on the farm 
until the fall of 1865, when he was appointed county clerk. 
March 16, 1866, he sold his farm and purchased a place 
in the village of Guildhall near the court house, where he 
lived until his death. He was county clerk from 1865 to his 
death in June, 1892, a period of about twenty-seven years. 
He was a very popular man, very much liked and respected 



284 Samuel £>iatie Benton 

charles by his neighbors and townspeople, and held many offices. 
emerson In 1863, 1869, 1870, and 1872 he served as lister. In 
benton i8 6 3j 1864, 1865, 1870, 1872, 1873, 1880, and 1888 he was 
wjt moderator at all the town meetings held in those years. He 
served as grand juror in 1862 and 1865. Before he was clerk, 
in 1864, he was one of the selectmen. He was fence-viewer in 
1875, 1879, 1880, 1 88 1, and 1888. He was chosen town audi- 
tor from 1 864 to 1 890, with the exception of the years 1 871, 
1880,1881,1882, and 1 883. He was town agent in 1880, 188 1, 
1882, 1884, and 1889; deputy town clerk in 1884, and town 
treasurer in the years 1886, 1887, and 1888, and during these 
three years he was also a trustee of the surplus revenue. He 
also served as overseer of the poor and sealer of weights and 
measures in 1869, and superintendent of schools in 1 873. He 
was representative from Guildhall in the General Assembly 
in 1866 and 1867, and was Senator in the State Senate from 
the Essex District in 1874 and 1875. He was County Treas- 
urer from 1886 to 1892. He was Register of Probate in 1884, 
and was Judge of Probate for Essex County from December 
1, 1888, to the time of his death, in 1892. 

He was a large, handsome man, with the black eyes of his 
mother, and of a somewhat indolent disposition. His judg- 
ment was good. He had a keen sense of justice, was patient 
and amiable. He was selected as auditor and referee in many 
cases, and his decisions were generally accepted as sound and 
satisfactory. 

He became a member of the Congregational Church at 
Guildhall by profession, July 6, 1879, and in the latter part 
of his life was, I understand, quite active in church matters, 
though he became estranged from the Congregational Church 
after a while and worshipped at the Methodist Church for a 
short time, but then returned. He was a kind-hearted, amiable, 
likable man, fond of his family and his friends, and so far as I 
knew or have ever heard, everybody whom he met was his 
friend. H e was an ardent and consistent Republican, and served 
as a member of the State committee of that party for ten con- 
secutive years, and when he was a candidate for office he al- 
ways ran ahead of his ticket, and I think was never defeated. 
He died at Guildhall, June 11, 1892, and is buried at Lan- 




Charles Emerson Benton 
1856 



#t0 SDescenDants 285 

caster, New Hampshire. charles 

The accompanying picture is from one in the possession emerson 
of his son, Everett C. Benton, and is an excellent likeness ben ton 
of him as I first remember him in 1856. w ^1> 

In the General Assembly of 1866 he was chairman of the 

P standing committee of the House on land titles, and served 
on the select committee upon the State Normal School. He 
voted for Luke P. Poland, as United States Senator, to fill 
the unexpired term of Jacob Collamer, deceased, and for 
George F. Edmunds to fill the unexpired term of Solomon 
Foot, deceased. He also voted for the ratification of the Four- 
teenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, and for 
a joint resolution declaring that before the Southern States 
were admitted to representation in Congress they ought to be 
required to adopt the Fourteenth Amendment and elect men 
to Congress who were and "always had been loyal to the gen- 
eral government." The temper of Vermont on this matter is 
shown by the fact that one hundred and ninety-six voted to 
adopt the Fourteenth Amendment and eleven against it, and 
one hundred and ninety-two for this resolution and only 
twelve against it. 

He introduced a bill, which was passed, increasing the fees 
of jurors, and voted for an act, which was defeated, to provide 
for a monument over the grave of Thomas Chittenden. He 
voted for a joint resolution declaring it to be "the exclusive 
right of Congress to prescribe the terms whereby the rebellious 
States may resume their former relations to the government," 
and commended the course of Congress in its controversy upon 
that matter with the President, Andrew Johnson. He sup- 
ported and voted for an act to provide for" the restoration and 
preservation offish in the waters of Vermont," also for an act 
to increase the pay of members of the General Assembly. 

There was another Benton, a member of the House at this 
session, — Elijah F. Benton, of Waltham, Addison County, — 
and the two Bentons appear to have generally voted together, 
but upon this act to increase the pay of the members, they 
did not. He voted against an act, which passed the House 
but was defeated in the Senate, to revise and amend the mili- 
tia law of the State, and also against an act to tax shares in 



2 86 Samuel £>latie Benton 



charles private corporations, which was defeated. He does not appear 
emerson by the Journal of the House to have promoted any special leg- 
benton islation, or to have been particularly active in the business of 
w^L the House. 

At the session of 1867 he was chairman of the standing 
committee of the House on land taxes, and was also a mem- 
ber of the committee on mileage and debentures. He voted 
for a resolution of inquiry as to the expediency of a general 
law to enable towns to aid in the construction of railroads, 
there being at that time numerous applications for authority 
by towns to aid railroad construction. He voted for an act to 
enable towns to aid in construction of the Lamoille Valley 
Railroad, which, after much opposition and repeated roll-calls, 
was passed. He also voted for an act to permit interest above 
the statutory rate to be taken by agreement of parties, which 
failed. He voted for an act "to assist indigent young men and 
women to qualify as teachers," and for an act, which was de- 
feated, to amend and revise the militia law. Also for an act to 
enable towns to aid in the construction of the Montpelier and 
Wells River Railroad, which was defeated by a vote of seven- 
ty-four to eighty-two. He voted against the report of the com- 
mittee on elections to unseat the member from Bradford, who 
was a Democrat. He voted for an act to enable towns to es- 
tablish "central schools," and for an act, which was defeated, to 
enable certain towns to aid in the construction of the Wells 
River Railroad. He voted for an act, which was passed, pro- 
viding that no railroad should charge in Vermont any larger 
sum for freight or passengers for a less than for a greater dis- 
tance on its road. He also voted for a joint resolution, which 
was adopted one hundred ninety-four to fourteen, declaring 
"that in the unhappy conflict of opinions between Congress 
and the Executive Department of the National Government 
in relation to the policy to be pursued in the reconstruction 
of States lately in rebellion, we heartily approve the action of 
Congress," etc. He does not appear to have promoted legis- 
lation to any extent by the introduction of bills, or to have 
been particularly active, so far as the Journal shows, in the 
business of the session. 

In 1 8 74, as a member of the State Senate from Essex County, 






tyis ^Descendants ^ 

he was the chairman of the standing committee on land taxes, charles 
a member of the judiciary committee, and served on the com- emerson 
mittees to canvass votes for State officers, and to canvass votes B£ nton 
for the third Congressional District. He was also chairman ^JL> 
of the select committee on a bill to constitute a new county 
by the name of Allen, and was a member of the select com- 
mittee to divide the State into Congressional Districts. He 
voted for George F. Edmunds for Senator for six years, for a 
bill to incorporate E. and T. Fairbanks a company, which met 
with opposition, but was passed ; also for a bill to require no- 
tice to towns and to exempt towns from liability in case of in- 
juries on highways except in case of gross negligence; and also 
to provide that the person injured should not be a witness in 
a suit against the town. This bill was defeated eleven to six- 
teen. He voted against an act, which was passed, providing 
that the liquor law should apply to the manufacture and sale 
of domestic wines for medicinal purposes. He voted against 
an act in amendment of the liquor law making the seller of any 
portion of the liquor to a person who became intoxicated 
thereby responsible for all the damage such intoxicated person 
might do while intoxicated and to provide that husband and 
wife could testify against each other in prosecutions under the 
act, but this act was passed seventeen to thirteen. He voted 
against the third reading of an act to prohibit passes, which 
was defeated by a vote of three to twenty-seven. He voted 
against a bill to constitute a new county by the name of Allen, 
which was defeated seven to twenty-two, and reported from 
his committee a bill, which was passed, providing for the ap- 
praisal of real estate which had been omitted from the quad- 
rennial appraisal. He also voted for an act "to place inmates 
of insane asylums under the protection of the laws," which 
provided for a board of visitors of such institutions, etc., but 
after this bill had been seriously amended he voted against it, 
and it failed of passage thirteen to fifteen. He voted against an 
act to authorize chairs to be made in the Reform School, about 
which there seems to have been much contest; also against a 
bill to increase the taxation of savings banks, which was de- 
feated. He voted for a bill to permit more than the statutory 
rate of interest to be taken by agreement, but the bill was de- 



^8 Samuel Slatie IBenton 

charles featednineto seventeen. He voted against a bill reported from 
emerson the judiciary committee, of which he was a member, in rela- 
benton t j on to ^e qualification ofjudges and chancellors, which passed 
w^L the Senate, fifteen to seventeen, but was, I think, defeated in 
the House. He also actively supported and voted for an act, 
which was passed, requiring notice to towns by persons claim- 
ing damages for injuries on highways. He appears to have been 
more active in the business of the Senate than he was in the 
business of the House, but he introduced very few bills, and 
only one private bill, so far as I can ascertain, that being an act 
to incorporate the Guildhall Aqueduct Company, a peculi- 
arity of which was that it named no persons as corporators, 
but simply provided that "such persons as shall hereafter be- 
come stockholders are hereby constituted a body politic," etc. 
At a special session of the Senate in January, 1875, which 
was called by reason of the destruction of the State Reform 
School by fire, he was on the select committee to provide for 
a new building, also on the select committee on an act as to 
the commitment of boys to the Reform School. He voted for 
an appropriation of fifty thousand dollars instead of thirty 
thousand dollars for the Reform School building, and he 
voted against a bill entitled "An Act to secure liberty of con- 
science to inmates of all State institutions." 
This is a facsimile of his signature. 




Charles Emerson Benton and Adda (Chamberlin) Benton 
had three children: — 

Charles Abner, born August 12, 1857, at Newbury, 
Vermont, who died August 20, 1877, at Guildhall, Ver- 
mont. 

Everett Chamberlin, born September 25, 1862, at Guild- 
hall, Vermont. 

Jay Bayard, born April 10, 1 870, at Guildhall, Vermont. 

Everett Chamberlin Benton married Willena Blanche, 
daughter of Samuel T. and Harriet (Willis) Rogers, of Pug- 
wash, Nova Scotia, on January 24, 1885, at Charlestown, 
Massachusetts. They have had the following children: — 



tyis 2DescenUante 289 

Jay Rogers, born October 18, 1885, at Somerville, Massa- charles 
chusetts. EMERSON 

Charles Everett, born May 7, 1887, at Belmont, Massa- BENT0N 
chusetts. ^^Z 

Blanche Avola, born March 14, 1889, at Belmont. 

Ruth Chamberlin, born April 23, 1893, at Belmont; died 
June 16, 1894, at Belmont. 

Dorothy Draper, born August 19, 1894, at Belmont. 

Hannah Slade, born February 5, 1899. 

Everett Chamberlin Benton has been a member of the 
Governor's Council and prominent in Massachusetts State 
affairs. He lives at Belmont and is in the insurance business. 

Jay Bayard Benton is a graduate of Dartmouth College 
and is unmarried. He lives at Winchester, Massachusetts, 
and is the city editor of the Boston Transcript. 



Reuben Clark Benton, Jr. 

1830-1895 



Reuben Clark Benton, Jr. 

1830-1895 



REUBEN CLARK BENTON, Jr., was the first child 
of Reuben C. and Almira (Fletcher) Benton, and the 
oldest grandchild of Samuel Slade Benton and Es- 
ther (Prouty) Benton. He was born at Waterford, Vermont, 
May 13, 1830. His father did not give him a college educa- 
tion, which he desired. He therefore worked on the farm at 
home, attending the district school in Waterford and the 
Academy in St. Johnsbury, and making all the preparation 
for college he could, until he was twenty-one years of age. 
During the last year of his minority he also studied law some- 
what with his Uncle Jacob Benton at Lancaster, New Hamp- 
shire, and with William Heywood at Guildhall, Vermont. In 
1 85 1 he became of age, and within ten days thereafter he en- 
tered the Vermont University at Burlington, Vermont, in the 
third term of the freshman year, and paid his own way through 
college by teaching during the winters. He graduated in 1 854, 
and then became principal of the Academy at Johnson, La- 
moille County, Vermont, and at the same time studied law. 
He was admitted to practice in Lamoille County, Vermont, 
in the latter part of the year 1855. 

March 18, 1856, at Johnson, he married Sara Maria, daugh- 
ter of Charles and Lucy (Perkins) Leland of Johnson, who 
was born at Lowell, Vermont, March 7, 1836. 

In September, 1856, he was chosen assistant clerk of the 
Senate of the General Assembly of Vermont, and served dur- 
ing that session. He was reelected assistant clerk at the Sep- 
tember session, 1857, and entered upon the discharge of his 
duties, but on October 1 1, he resigned on account of the ill- 
ness and sudden death of his father. In 1858 he moved to 
Hyde Park, Vermont, and formed a partnership with John 
A. Child of that place. In 1 860 he was chosen State's Attorney 
for Lamoille County, and was reelected in 1861. 

August 28, 1 86 1 , he was commissioned as captain of Com- 



294 



Samuel £>IaDe Benton 



REUBEN 
CLARK 



pany D, Fifth Vermont Volunteers, which was mustered into 

the United States service September i, 1861. The regiment 

benton, wen t immediately into service with the army of Virginia, and 

18^0 Captain Benton was wounded July 29, 1862, at the battle of 

■ — <—> Savage Station. 

August 26, 1862, he was promoted and commissioned as 
lieutenant colonel of the Eleventh Regiment Vermont Volun- 
teers. In the following winter of 1 863, this regiment was made 
into the First Vermont Heavy Artillery, and was placed with 
other regiments in the defences of Washington, where they 
remained until May 12, 1864, when as a part of the forward 
movement of General Grant upon Richmond, they were or- 
dered into active service at the front as an infantry regiment. 
The regiment joined Grant's army as a part of the Vermont 
Brigade, and was engaged first in the battle of Spottsylva- 
nia Court House, where, on May 17, Colonel Warner, com- 
manding the regiment, was severely wounded, and the regi- 
ment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Benton until 
June 21. 

May 20, the regiment fought at Guiney's Station. It then 
made a forced march of forty hours out of forty-seven. June 1, 
it fought at Cold Harbor, and June 3, it fought in the sec- 
ond action of Cold Harbor. It then held advance lines in the 
movement across the James on June 12. 

This regiment was in three battalions of eight platoon com- 
panies, each battalion serving as a full infantry regiment, and 
was larger than any brigade in the division. (Report Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Benton^ Appendix C, Adjutant General's Report 
of Vermont, 1 864.) 

The nature of their service appears in the report of the 
adjutant general, where he says: — 

" For twelve days before June 1 2, the brigade in taking 
part in the flank movement against Lee's Army, had been 
under an incessant fire of musketry and artillery. The front 
line was constantly engaged. The regiments occupied the 
front by turns, a change being made each night." 

The Eleventh had not been accustomed to marching or 
fighting, having never marched over four miles a day before. 
This severe service caused Colonel Benton to fall ill of malarial 




Reuben Clark Benton 
1863 



$ts 2DescenUants 295 

fever and enter hospital on June 10, where he remained until reuben 
June 21, when he resigned. At the time of his resignation clark 
he had served his three years' term of service less three months. BENT0N > 
"He had commanded his regiment with ability and bravery, J l8 , 
and in his departure it lost a capable and resolute comman- ' — r— ' 
der." (Benedict's Vermont in the Civil War^ Vol. 2, p. 356.) 

After his return, as soon as he was in health, he resumed 
the practice of his profession alone, his partner, Mr. Child, 
having died during his absence. In 1868 he removed to St. 
Albans, Vermont, which was then a place of much business 
promise. Here he was engaged in a general and extensive 
practice, and being much interested in education he served 
during several years as chairman of the school board, and in 
1 874 he was a member of the Vermont State Board of Edu- 
cation. 

In June, 1875, ne removed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, 
where he practised his profession during the remainder of his 
life. 

In 1879, 1880, and 1 881, he was the corporation counsel 
of the city of Minneapolis, resigning in December, 1881. 
From 1875, wnen he went to Minneapolis, until December, 
1 88 1, he was in partnership with his younger brother, Caleb 
Henry Benton. Upon his resignation as corporation counsel 
in 1 88 1, he was appointed counsel of the St. Paul, Minne- 
apolis and Manitoba Railroad Company, and when that com- 
pany was consolidated with the Great Northern Railroad 
Company he was continued as counsel of the consolidated 
company. 

He took much interest in public affairs, and served upon 
the Board of Trade, and in various other representative ca- 
pacities in city matters. He was an active member of the 
Loyal Legion, and was elected commander of the Minnesota 
Commandery in 1894. December 30, 1894, he suffered a 
stroke of paralysis, and January 8, 1895, ne died at ms home 
in Minneapolis. He was a large, strong man of impressive 
presence and dignified manner, and an effective and pleasing 
speaker. He was of a decidedly studious and scholarly dis- 
position, and had an excellent legal mind. I have known few 
men who so quickly and fully mastered, and so clearly and 



296 



Samuel Siatie Benton 



REUBEN 
CLARK 
BENTON, 
JUNIOR 

1830 



accurately stated the facts of a complicated case, or who ap- 
plied the law to the facts of a case with equal ability. 

He was of rather phlegmatic temperament, and rarely spoke 
or wrote much on matters outside of professional duties. I 
find but one publication by him : The Vermont Settlers and the 
New Tork Land Speculators, published in 1894. This is, I 
think, the most complete and accurate statement of the fa- 
mous controversy in Vermont as to the grants by New York 
and New Hampshire of the territory within that State. Upon 
reading it one regrets that the author did not do more work 
of an historical character. 

He was not a man of great business ability, that is, in the 
sense of making money, and he cared little about money. The 
practice of his profession brought him what he needed for a 
comfortable living and he seemed to care little for anything 
more, although he left, I understand, a reasonable compe- 
tence at his death. 

He was never a member of any church, but used to say 
that he was a Unitarian as much as anything, although he did 
not attend that church. His wife and daughters were all mem- 
bers of the Congregational Church, which he usually attended 
with them. 

The following testimonial was spread upon its records by 
the Minnesota Commandery of the Loyal Legion at its meet- 
ing January 15, 1895: — 

^[ In Memoriam Lieutenant Colonel Reuben Clark Benton. 

AT our last annual meeting he was elected our commander, 
k. and died in office January 8, 1895. 

Although a loving labor, it is not easy to adequately ex- 
press the full depth of sorrowful regret occasioned by the re- 
moval of our honored companion. 

As a member of this order we have learned to admire his 
many noble qualities of mind and heart, and to recognize him 
as one entitled to the bestowal of its highest honors; and we 
may congratulate ourselves that before his departure from us 
we were permitted to crown his closing days in a manner 
grateful to him and honorable to us. 

At the last meeting of this commandery over which he pre- 



tyis 2Descen6ants ^i 



sided, in conversation with a companion beside him, he re- reuben 
ferred in words of touching pathos to the possible approaching clark 
end of his earthly pilgrimage, and remarked that of all the ^™*' 
honors which during his varied career he had won, or failed ,g 30 
to win, he regarded most gratefully and proudly the position "— «— ' 
he then occupied, bestowed by the love and respect of his be- 
loved companions of the Loyal Legion. These words of his 
characterize, more fittingly than we may hope to do, the su- 
preme qualities of a patriot, soldier and companion. In his 
profession and as a citizen, no less than as a soldier, Colonel 
Benton possessed rare qualities of leadership. 

He was strong in court, and strong in counsel. Whether 
in camp or in field, in society or in politics, his opinions com- 
manded instant respect. His ideas were not borrowed. He 
possessed the native power of "seeing clear and thinking 
straight." In address he had dignity without ostentation, while 
his candor and his courtesy were never simulated. Hence it 
has come to pass that while he is now elsewhere, the impress 
of his remarkable personality is yet so vividly present that to 
emulate his virtues and enshrine his character among our most 
sacred memories is but the natural, as it is the most grateful 
and appropriate, tribute, we may offer to the memory of our 
departed commander, companion, and friend. 

The following resolutions were also adopted by the Bar of 
Hennepin County, Minnesota, January 10, 1895: — 

\ In Memoriam. 

WE, the Members of the Bar of the City of Minneapolis, 
deem it proper that we should place upon record some 
expression of the loss to ourselves and the profession of this 
State caused by the death of Reuben C. Benton, which occurred 
on the 8th of January, 1 895. 

Since the year 1 874, he has been one of the most active and 
successful lawyers of this State, and during this time closely 
identified himself with the material and moral growth and pros- 
perity of the city which he so much loved. For several years 
he was city attorney, and at a time when its policy was being 
shaped for many years to come. Many of the best provisions 
of the present city charter are the result of his best thought. 



298 



Samuel £>laDe Benton 



REUBEN 
CLARK 



He was, indeed, a manly man, and one of the best lawyers 
in the State. He had been in his early years a close student 
benton, Q f t j le common j aw anc j m this branch of jurisprudence had 
1830 f ew equals. The common law was not to him a fragmentary 
*— v— ' confusion of disjointed rules. He had mastered not only its 
details, but the history out of which it grew, and his vigor- 
ous and broad mind grasped it as a system in its full spirit 
and comprehended the mutual relations and symmetry of all 
its parts. He well understood that it is not a mere system of 
municipal law, but that it is, with all its blemishes, the noblest 
code of personal rights which the world has ever known, which 
educates man in free and self-reliant manhood, and which has 
done more than all written systems or constitutions for the 
nations which are blessed in its possession. He was not a case 
lawyer, but he was a better lawyer than mere case learning 
could make. The fundamental principles which underlie all 
sound judicial decisions were familiar to him, and mainly 
guided his judgment. The common law was his judicial creed. 

His character was singularly solid and firm and his facul- 
ties of a high order. He was a thoroughly honest man, — 
honest with the court, his brother lawyers, his clients and his 
neighbors. Honesty with him was not a policy, nor confined 
to questions of morality. His very nature and life were hon- 
est; he loved truth for truth's sake, with intense love, and 
this made him less liable to err in his conclusions of what 
the law was or ought to be, for no lawyer can be truly great 
who is not thoroughly honest. His star may shine with bril- 
liancy for a time, but sooner or later will go out in darkness 
and leave its light in ashes. 

He was warm-hearted and sympathetic, a true friend, and 
always at his best when his sympathies were aroused and en- 
listed in defence of some client who he thought was being 
unjustly persecuted. He was then a power to be dreaded by 
the persecutor. Those only who knew him well, knew that 
beneath a seemingly rough exterior there was a genuine and 
noble nature, and that he lived a life of kindness and con- 
sideration for all whom he honored with his intimacy. There 
was nothing small in his nature. His seeming roughness at 
times was only an excess or overflow of strength. 




Reuben Clark Benton 
1888 



J^ts ^Descendants ^ 99 

He bore to his grave the profound regard of all who knew reuben 
him well. His death is not only a great loss to the members clark 
of this Association, but to the Bench and Bar of this State. BENT0N ' 
We trust and believe, however, that his useful and blameless J l8 , 
life spent among us may still continue to have its good effect. ' — . — ' 
We can all say, as we do say, that the world is better because 
he lived and died. 

The following is a facsimile of the signature of Reuben 
Clark Benton in 1859. 



^&.A0^^) 



The picture in uniform is from a photograph in the possession 
of his widow, and was taken in 1863, when he was just recov- 
ered from a serious illness. It does not, therefore, do him jus- 
tice, but is reproduced as the only one in uniform now to 
be found. The picture in civilian dress is from a photograph 
taken in 1888, and shows Colonel Benton as he was in his 
later years. 

Sara Leland Benton, the widow of Reuben Clark Benton, 
now lives in Minneapolis. 

Reuben Clark Benton, Jr., and Sara Maria (Leland) Ben- 
ton had the following children: — 

Lucy, born January 4, 1857, at Johnson, Vermont; died 
April 28, 1882, at Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Mary, born April 7, 1859, at Johnson, Vermont; died 
February 3, 1882, at Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

George M., born December 29, i860, at Hyde Park, 
Vermont; died August 13, 1863, at Fort Stevens, Washing- 
ton, District of Columbia. 

Helen, born October 16, 1862, at Hyde Park, Vermont; 
died August 13, 1863, at Fort Stevens, Washington, Dis- 
trict of Columbia. 

The oldest daughter, Lucy, married Rollin Milo Doug- 
las, November 30, 1880, at Minneapolis. She left a daugh- 
ter, Helen Douglas, born October 21, 1 881, at Minneapolis, 
who died July 30, 1884. 



Caleb Henry Benton 

1841-1890 



Caleb Henry Benton 

1841-1890 



CALEB HENRY BENTON, the third son and fifth 
child of Reuben Clark Benton and Almira (Fletcher) 
Benton, and a grandson of Samuel Slade Benton, was 
born at Lunenburg, Vermont, February 26, 1841. When his 
father died in 18 57, he was sixteen years old, and attending the 
grammar school at Johnson, Vermont, where his brother Reu- 
ben and his sister Almira had taught. He there fitted for col- 
lege and in 1 860 entered the Vermont University in the fresh- 
man class. February 1 6, 1 86 1 , he left college and enlisted from 
Johnson, Vermont, in Company D, Fifth Regiment Vermont 
Volunteers. His brother Reuben was captain of this company. 
December 1, 1861, Caleb Henry Benton was promoted to be 
sergeant major of the regiment. July 9, 1 862, he was promoted 
to be second lieutenant of Company D. January 24, 1 863, he 
was promoted to be first lieutenant of the same company. Sep- 
tember 15, 1864, he was mustered out at the expiration of his 
three years' term of enlistment. 

He was a very brave soldier, conspicuous even in the famous 
"Vermont Brigade." Both his promotions were for conspicu- 
ous bravery in action. He was not off duty for a single day 
during the entire three years of service, and from February, 
1863, until the close of his service he was acting adjutant of 
the regiment. This Vermont Brigade was the only one in the 
army with a distinctive name, being known as the "fighting 
brigade of the fighting corps" (i.e., the Sixth Army Corps). 
It took part in thirty-seven battles which were officially re- 
ported, on an average of about three each thirty days of its 
services, and marched during that time more than two thou- 
sand miles, through Maryland and Virginia. 

When Lieutenant Benton's term of enlistment expired, 
September, 1865, he came home and entered the law school 
at Albany, New York, from which he graduated in May, 
1866. May 25, 1866, he was admitted to the Bar in Lamoille 



3 o 4 Samuel £>ia&e Benton 

caleb County, Vermont, and began practice at Hyde Park, Ver- 

henry mont. 

benton June 25, 1866, he married Flora E. Hadley, of Johnson, 
vLil Vermont. She died in 1869, and in 1871 he removed from 
Hyde Park to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where he practised 
his profession until his death, November 10, 1890. 

November 20, 1874, he married at Minneapolis, Jeanette 
Graham, who was born February 2, 1848, and who died at 
Minneapolis, November 24, 1885. 

I first met him at the Albany Law School in the autumn 
of 1865, where we were members of the same class. He was 
not studious, but without any apparent effort maintained a 
very good position in the class. After our graduation in the 
spring of 1866, I saw him occasionally until he went to Min- 
neapolis, after which I never met him again. He was a man 
of good legal instin&s, not studious, but strong, sensible, prac- 
tical, and I understand became a very excellent and capable 
lawyer. He was much interested in Masonry, being made a 
Master Mason at Morrisville, Vermont, in February, 1865. 
He was a member of the Loyal Legion, being admitted to 
the Minnesota Commandery, October 25, 1887. 
This is his signature in middle life. 

Upon his death the Bar adopted the following memorial : — 

DURING the present year, the bar of Hennepin County 
has been called upon to mourn the loss, by death, of some 
of its most distinguished and honored members, and to-day 
we have again assembled to give expression to a new sorrow 
on account of the death of another lamented brother, the 
Hon. C. H. Benton, and place upon record a brief tribute 
to his exalted worth, and of our respect to his memory. 

"Mr. Benton died suddenly at his office on the 10th inst. 
at the age of 49 years, and although the event was not alto- 
gether unexpected to him, but few of his brethren at the bar 
knew he was in ill health, so uncomplainingly had he carried 
the secret of his bodily infirmity. 



tyis ^Descendants 305 

"He died in the full strength of his manhood, and before caleb 
his sun had scarce reached the meridian. For almost a quar- henry 
ter of a century he was engaged in the active, diligent and B£ nton 
successful practice of the law, and had, by his careful study « — }—> 
and close application, not only thoroughly trained himself for 
the practice of his chosen profession, but had attained a high 
rank among the ablest members of this bar. He was possessed 
of eminent ability as a lawyer, and excelled in all branches of 
his profession. He was devoted to the interests of his clients, 
and they always found in Mr. Benton an honest, honorable 
and faithful counsellor and advocate. 

" He was a man of strong convictions, and always possessed 
of the courage to maintain them. He was a fearless man; a 
man of strong and rugged character, but with it all, he was a 
gentleman. To those who were but slightly acquainted with 
him, he may have appeared reserved and austere, yet he was 
one of the most gentle, genial and kind-hearted of men. He 
loved his friends and was true to them through all the vicis- 
situdes of life, and in return, enjoyed the love, confidence and 
respect of all who knew him well. 

"The early years of his manhood were given to the ser- 
vice of his country in her hour of supreme peril, and for more 
than three years he shared with his comrade patriots the hard- 
ship and perils of war, and cheerfully made profert of his life 
upon his country's altar. This brief memorial would be far 
from complete if his bravery and patriotic services to his 
country were not made conspicuous. 

"In the midst of his usefulness he has been removed from 
earth, and his life work suddenly ended. In his death, the 
community in which he lived, and the State of his adoption 
have lost an upright citizen, our profession, one of its most 
gifted members, and his family of motherless children, a lov- 
ing and tender father. 

"We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the bereaved, and 
will always honor the name and cherish the memory of our 
deceased friend. 

"We respectfully request the Court to direct that this me- 
morial be entered upon the records of this Court, with such 
other proceedings as may be had in connection therewith, and 



306 Samuel £>ia&e Benton 




that a copy thereof be transmitted to the family of the deceased." 
The Commandery of the Loyal Legion also adopted the 
following memorial on December 9, 1890: — 

^[ Lieutenant Caleb Henry Benton. 

CALEB Henry Benton was born at Lunenberg, Essex 
County, Vermont, Feb. 26, 1841. He died suddenly in 
his office, Minneapolis, Minn., at 12.30 P. M., Nov. 10, 
1890, of heart disease. 

He became, on 061. 25, 1887, and remained until death, a 
member of the Commandery of Minnesota Military Order 
of the Loyal Legion. This Commandery in his death loses 
a noble companion, the community in which he lived, a true 
man, and his children a devoted and loving father. His was 
a strong, marked character, and wherever he was known he 
will be missed and mourned. The world is better because he 
lived, and, but for the memory of the loyal, true and cour- 
ageous life he lived, it will be far poorer for his untimely 
death, in the prime of manhood and growing power. 

This Commandery . . . attended the funeral services of our 
deceased companion at Plymouth Church in Minneapolis, 
from whence he was borne to his last resting place in Lake- 
wood Cemetery on Nov. 14, 1890. He left surviving three 
minor, motherless children who could illy spare the tender 
love and care of their father. There is little the living can do 
to help, and as little say, which can help to fill the great void 
in the young hearts of our companion's now doubly orphaned 
children. We may remember them, and, as in duty bound, 
never allow them to pass beyond the protecting care of our 
companionship. . . . In our hearts we have individually erected 
memorials of his life and worth. For those nearer to him than 
ourselves, it is well that we record our estimate of his life and 
character. 

The fittest memorial this Commandery can erect to the 
memory of our late Companion Benton, is a recital of the 
events of his life as a soldier and as a citizen. Born of stal- 
wart stock, our companion was a typical Green Mountain 
boy, in robust frame and in sturdy, sterling manhood. His 




Caleb Henry Benton 
1863 



tyis SDescen&ants 



3°7 



life was uneventful as a boy and passed in such occupation caleb 
as, in that day and generation, was the common lot of the henry 
hardy, self-reliant sons of our Northern farms. He received be nton 
such education as his apt and ready mind could gather in the ^— X^ 
common schools and academies of Vermont, had taught a 
term or two and spent one year in college, when, at the age 
of twenty, in obedience to the call of the governor of his 
state, in July, 1861, he enlisted in his country's defense. He 
was mustered, Aug. 21, 1 861, as private in Company "D," 
Fifth Regiment Vermont Infantry, United States Volunteers. 
. . . From muster-in till muster-out, he was not absent from 
his command a single day. ... He had no hospital record 
during his entire service, and while others allowed themselves 
to become sick amid the inglorious occupation of camp life, 
or on the lone picket, or the never-ending drill, we can see 
him bite that thin lip, so well known to all of us, and take 
hold of the tasks his superiors appointed him, with the same 
grim determination to conquer, exhibited in these later years, 
when handling many important but as hard and unpleasant 
tasks. 

Dec. 1, 1 861, he was promoted sergeant major of his regi- 
ment in recognition of the capabilities he had thus early dis- 
played as a soldier. He marched with his regiment to engage 
in the unfortunate "Peninsula" campaign in the spring of 
1862. From the day he broke camp to enter upon that cam- 
paign until the end of his service, was for him a daily rec- 
ord, full of perils, privations and sufferings. He was with his 
regiment . . . at the battles and engagements of Lee's Mill, 
Williamsburg, . . . Savage Station, Malvern Hill, . . . 
Antietam, First and Second Fredericksburg, . . . Chancel- 
lorsville, Gettysburg, . . . Rappahannock Station, . . . 
the "Wilderness," at Spottsylvania, Cold Harbor, . . . and 
wound up his service in the fight of Aug. 21, 1864, at 
Charlestown, Va., and was mustered out Sept. 15, 1864. 



At Savage Station the Fifth Vermont rendered conspicuous 
service, losing nearly half of its men in killed and wounded. 
Companion Benton for gallantry on that occasion, was im- 




3os Samuel £>Iatie Benton 

mediately thereafter recommended for, and on July 9, 1862, 
received, promotion to second lieutenant of Company "D" 
of his regiment. . . . And on Jan. 2,4, 1 863, received further 
promotion, as first lieutenant of his company, for brave and 
meritorious conduct during the preceding campaign. Early in 
February, 1863, he was detailed acting adjutant of his regi- 
ment and until the close of his service filled that position 
with conspicuous ability, and rendered therein magnificent 
service to his regiment and to his country. 

The foregoing is a brilliant record of faithful, loyal service 
of which our companion, living, and his children hereafter, 
may justly be proud. It was virtually three years of service 
in tent or bivouac, except during two months in 1863, when 
the regiment was sent to New York during the draft riots. 
It was a service of the most unalloyed privation and expo- 
sure. We looked upon our companion as a strong, sturdy man. 
He was; but running the eye back over the foregoing record 
of his services, we may readily see that the seeds of the fell 
destroyer which at last struck him down at the post of duty 
in civil life may have been planted in him during that brave, 
unstinted and unselfish service for his country. 

His country received the first efforts of his young man- 
hood. . . . Once more in civil life, he immediately began 
preparation for his future civil career. He entered the Al- 
bany Law School and graduated therefrom in 1866. He be- 
gan the practice of law in South Troy, in his native state. 

In 1 87 1 he . . . located in Minneapolis, where, for nearly 
twenty years, he has lived in the active duties of his chosen 
profession, — the law, — in which he grew to, and commanded, 
an honorable and deservedly high position. . . . 

While always active in the exercise of the full rights, privi- 
leges, and duties of American citizenship and an aftive par- 
tisan, believing in and never backward in supporting the prin- 
ciples which his party represented, he was not in any sense an 



tyis ^Descendants 



309 



BENTON 
184I 



offensive one. He was never a candidate for an elective office, caleb 
but for nearly two terms served the city of his adoption as henry 
its attorney with faithful and distinguished ability. 

From early manhood he was a member of the masonic 
fraternity, and held the highest offices and honors within the 
gift of that institution in its subordinate lodges and its Grand 
Lodge. ... He was among the very ablest and most distin- 
guished Masons in the State of Minnesota, and had masonic 
acquaintance by travel and otherwise throughout the world. 

He was a member of George N. Morgan Post, No. 4, 
G.A. R. 



To the doubly orphaned children this Commandery sends 
assurances of most solicitous care, and records its belief that 
the rough granite block, brought by our late companion from 
his own New England hills, under the shadow of which he 
lies, is a fit monument for one whose character, however 
rough in exterior, was within as true and solid and as firm as 
the massive stone which, in beautiful Lakewood, marks his 
last resting place on earth. 

The Masonic order also adopted the following: — 

In Deo Fiducia Nostra. Supreme Council of the Thirty-third 
Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite for the South- 
ern Jurisdiction of the United States. Sam E. Adams, 23° In- 
spector General for Minnesota. Orient of Minneapolis, the 10th 
day of November, 1890, C. E. 

To the Brethren and Bodies of the Obedience of our Supreme 
Council in Minnesota : 



Sorrow ! 



Sorrow ! 



Sorrow ! 



From the regions of the North this morning, the freez- 
ing winds came to us unwelcomed. A thousand fold more so 
is the appalling news of the sudden demise of Caleb Henry 
Benton. 

At meridian this day he was stricken down in his office 
with heart disease, and instantly life became extinct. Only 
the clayey casket of a noble man remains. Verily, the dark 
shadow of Death is in our valley ! 



3io 



Samuel £>IaDe Benton 




Leaves have their time to fall, 

And flowers to wither at the north-wind's breath 
And stars to set, — but all, 

Thou hast all seasons for thine own, O Death. 

Brother Benton was born in Lunenburg, Vermont, Feb. 
26, 1 841; entered the Vermont University at Burlington in 
i860; enlisted in the Fifth Vermont Volunteers in '61, and 
was mustered out, Adjutant, Sept. 19, '63. He graduated at 
the Albany Law School in '66; came to Minneapolis in '71, 
and was City Attorney from December, '81 to April, '83. 

He was made, February, '65, a Master Mason in Mount 
Vernon Lodge, No. 8, Morrisville, Vermont. He received 
the capitular degrees in Saint Anthony Falls Chapter, No. 3, 
the cryptic in Adoniram Council, No. 5, and was created a 
Knight Templar in Darius Commandery, No. 7, all in '79. 
He was Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge in '78, Deputy 
Grand Master in '79 and '80, and Grand Master in '82 and 
'83. He was frequently on the most important Grand Lodge 
committees, and wherever placed, his work was faithfully, 
conscientiously and well done. His dissection and scourge 
of Cerneauism at the last meeting of the Grand Lodge, re- 
vealed the power, truth and justice of a distinguished man 
and mason. 

He received the Scottish Rite degrees of the Southern Ju- 
risdiction in '79, was Venerable Master three years of Min- 
neapolis Consistory, No. 2, from its organization by Deputy 
G. W. Merrill, March 27, '80, and was coronetted Inspector 
General Honorary, September 6, '83. He also received the 
Royal Order of Scotland (of which there can never be in the 
United States more than one hundred and fifty members) at 
Washington December 10, '87, from the hands of the Pro- 
vincial Grand Master, Albert Pike. 

He was a man whom it was well to know, for he always 
imparted instruction without pedantry. His legal associates 
say of him, he "had attained a high rank among the ablest 
members of the bar; his clients always found in him an hon- 
est, honorable and faithful counselor and advocate; he loved 
his friends and was true to them through all the vicissitudes 
of life." This is truly a grand tribute to an illustrious man. 



<** #*s 




Caleb Henry Betiton 
1888 



J^tfi ^Descendants 3" 

There is one less to share the burdens of daily life, one caleb 
less in the small family circle, one less of generous, noble- henry 
hearted men to bestow benefactions upon the unfortunate be nt°n 
and the destitute, one less patriot, one less loyal, loving » — ,_> 
brother. Though dead he still lives. Though daily missed he 
is not lost to us. The memory of his good deeds will last for- 
ever. " Death is the end of them only who have done nothing 
to cause their names to live after them." 

This letter will be read aloud, upon its reception, in each 
body of our obedience; the altars and working tools of each 
draped in black sixty days; during which time let each brother 
wear the proper badge of mourning! 

May our Father who is in Heaven have us, and all who 
are sorrowful and afflicted, always in His holy keeping. 

Sam. E. Adams ^3° 
Inspector General for Minnesota. 

The picture in citizen's dress is from a photograph taken 
in 1888. The picture in uniform is from a photograph taken 
in 1863. 

Caleb Henry Benton and Flora (Hadley) Benton had the 
following children: — 

Samuel Slade, born March 18, 1868, at Troy, Vermont; 
died March 23, 1868, at Troy. 

Nancy Bell, born April 25, 1869, at Troy, Vermont; 
died September 17, 1869, at St. Albans, Vermont. 

Caleb Henry and Jeanette (Graham) Benton had the fol- 
lowing children, all born at Minneapolis, Minnesota. 

Christiana May, born July 13, 1876. 

Henry Graham, born December 7, 1878. 

Mabel Jeanette, born November 20, 1882. 



Benton Coats of Arms 



Coats of Arms borne by 
English Families of Benton 



IBenton— fc&iitsinre 

i 

Sa. five fusils in bend ar. Crest — on a mount vert a lamb carry- 
ing a flag az. 

II 
Sa. (another, az. ) a bend ar. 

Ill 
Sa. six fusils in bend ar. Crest — a griffin's head erased ar. 

IV 

Ar. a saltire engr. sa. 

V 
Chequy or and az. (oldest). 

VI 
Or, a lion ramp, az.fretty ar. 

The above is taken from Burke's General Armory and is col- 
lated with the descriptions given in Robson's British Herald. 
Illustrations follow of the arms mentioned above. 

if 

Berry, Dictionary of Arms, gives seven Benton shields, the fol- 
lowing being number — 

VII 
Ar. three saltiers engrailed sa. 




Sa. five fusils in bend ar. Crest — on a 
mount vert a lamb carrying a flag az. 



II 




Sa. a bend ar. 



Ill 




Sa. six fusils in bend ar. 
Crest — a griffin s head erased ar. 



IV 




A r. a saltire engr. sa. 



V 




Chequy or and az. 



VI 




Or, a lion ramp. az. fretty ar. 



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Benedict, George G. Vermont in the Civil War. Burling- 
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Benton, Everett C. History of Guildhall, Vermont. Wa- 
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Benton, Ira E. Life and Times of Ariel Benton. Peoria, 1882. 

Benton, Philip. History of Rochford Hundred, Essex, Eng- 
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* Records marked with a t have not been printed. 



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Twenty-eighth Report: Boston Marriages, 1700-51. Bos- 
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Burke, Sir John Bernard, Editor. The General Armory 
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■j* Caledonia County, Vermont. Probate Records. 

Carpenter, Amos B. A Genealogical History of the Rehoboth 
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f Cheshire County, New Hampshire. Records of Deeds. 

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Chipman, Richard M. The History of Harwinton, Connetli- 
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Cleveland, Stafford C. History and Directory of Tates 
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Crocker, Zebulon. The Catastrophe of the Presbyterian 
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Drake, Samuel G. Result of Some Researches among the 
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Dwight, Melatiah E. The Kirbys of New England. New 
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Goodhue, Josiah F. History of the Town of Shoreham, Ver- 
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■j" Guildhall, Vermont. Town Records. 

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•(-Guilford, Connecticut. Land Records. 



322 



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-j*Haddam, Connecticut. Town Records. 

■j- Hampshire County, Massachusetts. Probate Records. 

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+ Hartford, Connecticut. Land Records. 

+ Hartford. Probate Records. 

-{•Hartford. Town Records. 

Hartford. First Church. Historical Catalogue, 1 633-1 885. 
[Hartford.] 1885. 

Hartford. Second (South) Church Records. 
•j- Hartford. Town Votes. 
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Hayward, John. Gazetteer of Vermont. Boston, 1849. 

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New Hampshire. Province. Atls and Laws. 
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New Haven Colony. Records. 

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-{•Port Huron, Michigan. Congregational Church Records. 

Porter, William S. Historical Notices of Conneclicut, No. 2. 
Hartford, 1842. 



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■\ Putney, Vermont. Town Records. 

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•j" Rockingham, Vermont. Town Records. 

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[pseud.']. Edited by W. M. B. Hartley. Hartford, 1853. 
Contains a map of Hartford in 1 640. 

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Thomson, Samuel. New Guide to Health; or, Family Botanic 
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2l5tbltograpi)j> 



3 2 7 



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Washington, New Hampshire. History, 1768-1886. 
Claremont, 1886. 

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-j-Waterford. Congregational Church Records. 

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-j-Wethersfield. Town Records. 

*}* Windsor, Connecticut. Town Records. 



Index 



Index 



A Bbott, Charles D., 270. 
A-\ Laurinda (Holbrook), 
-*- -^- 270. 

Mary Elizabeth, see Benton, 
Mary Elizabeth (Abbott). 
Act for the Due Observation of 

the Sabbath, ill. 
Adams, James, 114. 
Jeremiah, 22. 
Martin, 114. 
Samuel E., 309, 311. 
Addison, Vt., 250, 251, 252, 

253- 
Albany, N. Y., 137. 

Albany Law School, 303, 304. 

Aldrich, Emma (Heath), 270. 

Josephine Emery, see Benton, 
Josephine Emery (Aldrich). 

Richard Ransom, 270. 
Alfred, Abigail (Benton), 95, 

96. 

Job, 96. 

Lois, 101. 
Allen, Eliza, see Benton, Eliza 

(Allen). 

Heman, v. Silas Hathaway, 
118. 
Allis, Nathaniel, 251. 
Allotment of lands in Milford, 

Conn., 3, 8, 9. 

in Waterford, Vt., 157. 
Allyn, John, 15, 16. 
Alstead, N. H., place of residence 

of Jacob Benton, Jr., and his 

descendants, passim. 
American Board of Commission- 
ers for Foreign Missions, 

205. 
American Home Missionary So- 
ciety, 201, 203, 254. 



American Sunday-school Union, 
78. 

Ames, Abigail (Benton), 94, 95. 
Barnabas, 95. 

Amherst, Mass., 88, 147, 148. 

Amherst Academy, 150. 

Amherst College, 150, 201, 249. 

Anamosa, Iowa, 202, 203, 204. 

Andros, Edmund, 43. 

Ann Arbor, Mich., 259. 

Armada, Mich., 201, 202, 203, 
204. 

Armington, John, 121. 
Joseph, 120, 122, 126. 

Ashman, Amaziah, 61. 

Atherton, Charles G., 234. 

Atlantic and St. Lawrence Rail- 
road, 235, 236, 237. 

At water, Rev. William W., 261. 

B 

BAdger, Hannah, 165, 166. 
Baker, Thomas, 7. 
Balch, George Albert, 271. 

George Sherman, 271. 

Harriet Maria (Benton), 271. 

Mary Eliza (Glines), 271. 
Ballou, John, 22. 
Ballston Springs, N. Y., 76. 
Bardwell, Rev. D. M., 259, 

260. 
Barnardstone, 148. 
Barnet, Vt., 120, 121, 166. 

Baptist Church in, 165, 167. 
Barney, John, 122. 
Barns, , of Farmington, 22. 

Rev. Elisha, 76. 

Hulda, see Benton, Hulda 
(Barns). 
Barnum, Rev. George, 261. 



33* 



3Jnt>ejc 



Bartholomew, Andrew, 59, 60, 66. 


Benton (Continued). 


Daniel, 60, 61. 


Amanda, 135. 


Bartlett, Rev. E. N., 261. 


Amanda Ackley (Flint), 142. 


Batavia, N. Y., 76, 77. 


Amos, 57, 63, 81, 85, 89. 


Bean, Etta May, see Benton, Etta 


share of his father's estate, 


May (Bean). 


65, 66. 


George Henry, 270. 


children of, 74, 75. 


Kate Emma (Sweet), 270. 


Amos, 94, 95. 


Bell, Charles H., 234. 


Amos, 95. 


his estimate of the character 


Andrew, 41, 70, 75, 155. 


of Hon. Jacob Benton, 


sketch of, 1-30. 


233, 2 34- . 


one of the original settlers 


Bellows, Benjamin, 112. 


of Milford, Conn., 2. 


Henry A., 226. 


not in church fellowship, 3. 


Colonel John, 89, ill, 112. 


land allotted to, 3, 8, 9. 


Levi, 112. 


marriage, 9. 


Bellows Falls, 87. 


children of, 10. 


Bellows Tavern, Walpole, N. H., 


made a freeman, 11. 


in. 


dismissed to Hartford 


Beloit, Wis., 78. 


Church, 12. 


Benedict, Deacon I. N., 251. 


second marriage, 12. 


Bennington, Vt., 129. 


takes part in the Hartford 


Benton, Abigail, 47, 53. 


Controversy, 13. 


share of her father's estate, 


his lands in Hartford, 15,16. 


50. 


character of, 19. 


Abigail, 35, 57. 


inventory of estate of, 20- 


share of her father's estate, 


22. 


65. 


distribution of estate of, 23- 


brief sketch of, 94. 


27. 


Abigail, wife of Barnabas 


Andrew, Jr., 10, 15, 16, 57. 


Ames, 94, 95. 


share of his father's estate, 


Abigail, wife of Job Alfred, 


24. 


95, 96. 


brief sketch of, 31. 


Abigail (Carter), 57, 94. 


dies intestate, 42. 


death of, 58. 


Andrew, 34. 


Abraham, 35, 53. 


Andrew, 34. 


Adda (Chamberlin), 283. 


Andrew, 35, 78. 


children of, 288. 


Andrew, 78. 


Almena (Rugg), 77. 


Ann Amanda, 142. 


Almira (Fletcher), 179, 182, 


Ann Y., wife of William 


192. 


Cad well, 141, 142. 


children of, 192, 193. 


Anne, 35. 


Almira Fletcher, wife of Le 


Anne (Cole), 12, 15. 


Roy Robinson, 182, 192. 


viclim of witchcraft, 16, 


children of, 193. 


17, 18. 



3nHtv 



333 



Benton, Anne (Cole) (Continued). 


Benton, Caleb Henry (Continued). 


share of her husband's es- 


Masonic memorial, 309- 


tate, 23, 24, 27. 


3 11 - 


will of, 27. 


children of, 311. 


inventory of the estate of, 


Caroline Esther, 270. 


28-30. 


Carrie Asenath (Carlton), 271. 


children of, 32. 


Catherine, 36. 


Annie (Chesley), 271. 


Catherine (Healey), 137. 


Asa, 34. 


Catherine (Kelleher), 137. 


Asa, 36. 


Charles, 283. 


Aurelia (Wells), 78. 


Charles, sketch of, 134-136. 


Barnabas, 57, 63, 85, 95. 


facsimile of signature of, 


share of his father's estate, 


J 35. 


65, 66. 


Charles Abner, 288. 


Barnabas, 95. 


Charles Emerson, 161, 163, 


Barnabas, 95. 


175, 202, 203. 


Barnabas, 95. 


sketch of, 283-289. 


Benjamin Butler, 270. 


marriage of, 283. 


children of, 271. 


offices held by, 283, 284. 


Betsey, 33, 77. 


characteristics of, 284. 


Betsey (Bidwell), 35, 141. 


facsimile of signature of, 


Blanche Avola, 289. 


288. 


Caleb, 33, 47, 51, 73. 


aclion of, as representative, 


share of his father's estate, 


and as senator, in Ver- 


49, 50. 


mont Legislature, 285— 


marriage, 53. 


288. 


Caleb, 35. 


children of, 288. 


Caleb Henry, 182, 193. 


Charles Everett, 289. 


sketch of, 303-311. 


Charles Francis, 142. 


enters Vermont Univer- 


Charles Prior, 135, 136. 


sity) SOS- 


Charlotte W., 135. 


enlists, 303. 


Chauncey, 35,82, 83, 85, 88, 


services in the army, 303, 


89» 92, 97> J 55> 161, 279, 


3°7> 3° 8 - 


283. 


admitted to Vermont Bar, 


sketch of, 141-144. 


3°4- 


letter from, 143. 


two marriages of, 304. 


facsimileofsignatureof,i44. 


removes to Minneapolis, 


Chauncey, 141. 


3°4 : 


Chloe, wife of Rev. Oliver 


facsimile of signature 0^304. 


Wetmore, 36. 


memorial of Hennepin 


Christiana May, 311. 


County Bar on death of, 


Cynthia, 95. 


3°4- 


Daniel, 33, 47, 51. 


adlion of Loyal Legion, 


land deeded to, by his fa- 


306-309. 


ther, 43. 



334 3Jn&e;r 


Benton, Daniel (Continued). 


Benton (Continued). 


share of his father's estate, 


Emily Nichols, wife of Heze- 


50. 


kiah Gaylord, 135, 136. 


marriage, 54. 


Emma Viola (Hedden), 280. 


Dolly (Stowe), 78. 


Erastus, 95. 


Dorothy, 11, 34. 


Esther, wife of James Timothy 


share of her father's estate, 


Starr, 161, 164, 175, 214. 


25, 26. 


short sketch of, 209, 210. 


Dorothy Draper, 289. 


Esther (Prouty), 156, 165, 


Dwight, 271. 


166, 167, 173, 174, 179, 


Ebenezer, 15, 16, 32, 34, 42. 


197. 


share of his father's estate, 


characteristics of, 169, 170. 


26. 


death of, 170. 


share of his mother's estate, 


facsimile of signature of, 


28. 


173- 


Ebenezer, 34. 


children of, 175. 


Ebenezer, 35. 


Esther Prouty, 271. 


Ebenezer, 37. 


Etta May (Bean), 270. 


Edward, I. 


children of, 271. 


Elijah F., 285. 


Eunice, 34. 


Eliza (Allen), 142. 


Eunice (Stanly), 36, 76. 


Eliza Anne (Nutting), 202. 


Eunice, wife of Amos Thomp- 


Eliza (Burr), 136. 


son, 35, 76. 


Elizabeth, 34. 


Everett Chamberlin,285, 288. 


Elizabeth, 37. 


children of, 289. 


Elizabeth, 63, 96. 


Fanny, wife of Daniel Fish, 


Elizabeth, wife of Silas Grid- 


36, 141, 142. 


ley, 82, 83, 85, 87, 97, 1 1 5, 


Fanny Maria, wife of Lam- 


116, 134, 141, 155, 161, 


bert Wesley Smith, 142. 


167, 168, 173,219. 


Flora E. (Hadley), 304. 


share of her grandfather's 


children of, 311. 


estate, 65. 


Florence Alena, 279. 


letters to, from her parents, 


two marriages of, 280. 


88-91. 


Frances Amelia, wife of Ed- 


sketch of, 1 01, 102. 


ward N. Gleason, 136. 


Elizabeth, wife of Elisha Kin- 


Francis F., 137. 


ney, 161,164,175,203,214. 


Franklin, 270. 


short sketch of, 219-221. 


Frederick Henry, 136. 


children of, 219. 


George, 37. 


death of, 220. 


George, 77. 


Elizabeth (Hinsdell), 58, 63, 


George, 35. 


81, 94. 


George, 134. 


Elizabeth (White), 94, 95. 


George, 37. 


Emily, wife of Roderick Sey- 


George, 142. 


mour, 36, 134. 


George M., 299. 



3nUv 



33S 



Benton (Continued). 


Benton (Continued). 


Gladys Marion, 271. 


Henry Graham, 311. 


Hannah, 10, 12, 31. 


Hepzibah, 33. 


Hannah, 12, 15, 31, 34. 


Hugh Henry, 270. 


share of her father's estate, 


children of, 271. 


26. 


Hulda (Barns), 76. 


share of her mother's estate, 


Huldah (Clark), 133. 


28. 


facsimile of signature of, 


two marriages of, 33. 


134- 


Hannah, 34, 47. 


Ichabod, 94. 


share of her father's estate, 


Isaac, 34. 


50. 


Jacob, 33, 34,47,51,54,70, 


two marriages of, 53. 


81, 85, 94, 155, 225. 


Hannah, 35, 53. 


becomes a proprietor in 


Hannah, wife of George Corn- 


Harwinton lands, 44, 45, 


ing, 3 6 - 


58. 


Hannah, 141. 


share of his father's estate, 


Hannah E., wife of George 


50. 


Walker, 136. 


sketch of, 57-67. 


Hannah (Ensign), 33, 53. 


estate of, in Hartford, 57. 


Hannah (Slade), 82, 85, 86, 


marriage, 57. 


112, 155, 197. 


second marriage, 58. 


children of, 83. 


offices held by, 58, 59. 


death of, 87, 92. 


activity in school matters, 


letters of, to Elizabeth and 


60-63. 


Silas Gridley, 88-91. 


children of, 63. 


Hannah Slade, wife of Jesse 


death of, 63. 


Willard Stoddard, 158, 160, 


will of, 64-66. 


161, 164, 170, 175. 


facsimile of signature of, 


sketch of, 197, 198. 


67. 


Hannah Slade, 289. 


Jacob, Jr., 35, 63, in, 112, 


Hannah (Stocking), 9, 12, 13, 


155, 156, 225. 


15, 16, 41. 


share of his father's estate, 


Harold Morse, 271. 


64, 66. 


Harriet, 34. 


sketch of, 81-96. 


Harriet Buxton (Niles), 265. 


town offices held by, in 


children of, 270. 


Harwinton, 81, 82, 84. 


Harriet E., 136. 


children of, 83, 87, 97. 


Harriet Maria, wife of George 


failure in business, 85. 


Albert Balch, 270, 271. 


"warned to depart" from 


Helen, 299. 


Alstead, 86. 


Henrietta (Hotchkiss), 78. 


trader in Rockingham, Vt., 


Henry, 78. 


87. 


Henry, 78. 


letters of, to Elizabeth and 


Henry, 135, 136, 137. 


Silas Gridley, 88-91. 



33<> 



3ntttx 



Benton, Jacob, Jr. (Continued). 


Benton, Jacob, Hon. (Continued). 


facsimile of signature of, 


member of North Church, 


92. 


St. Johnsbury, Vermont, 


letter announcing death of, 


226. 


9 2 > 93- 


excommunicated, 226. 


Jacob, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 89, 


delegate to Republican 


90, 91, 97, 105, 106, 134, 


Convention at Chicago 


155, 156, 160, 161, 172, 


(i860), 227. 


173, 180, 225. 


member of Congress, 227. 


letter of, to his sister, an- 


marriage, 227. 


nouncing their father's 


sudden death by accident, 


death, 92, 93. 


227, 228. 


sketch of, 111-129. 


facsimile of signature of, 


chosen a tythingman, ill. 


228. 


purchases of land, 112. 


characteristics of, 228, 229. 


takes freeman's oath at 


proceedings of Coos County 


Waterford, 112. 


Bar upon his death, 229- 


offices held by, 113. 


233- 


buys farm in St. Johnsbury, 


estimate of, by Hon. Charles 


114. 


H. Bell, 233, 234. 


death and burial of, 114, 


action of, in State Legisla- 


179. 


ture and in Congress, 


character of, 115, 116. 


234-246. 


his books, 116. 


James, 36, 76, J J. 


aftion as member of As- 


James Chauncey, 142. 


sembly and of Constitu- 


James Slade, 141, 142. 


tional Convention, 117, 


Jane, 37, 134. 


118. 


Jane, 135. 


appraisal and inventory of 


Jane Emily, 136, 137. 


estate of, 1 19-126. 


Jane M., 136. 


facsimile of signature of, 


Jane J. (Sedgwick), 136. 


127. 


Jay Bayard, 288, 289. 


letter of, to Silas Gridley, 


Jay Rogers, 289. 


127-129. 


Jeanette (Graham), 304. 


Jacob, Hon., 161, 162, 163, 


children of, 311. 


164, 165, 175,' 179, 202, 


Jehiel, 34. 


249, 293. 


Jerusha, 37. 


sketch of, 225-246. 


Jerusha, 94. 


teacher at Concord, Vt., 


Jerusha, wife of Timothy P. 


226. 


Perkins, 35. 


studies law, 226. 


Jerusha, 33. 


his partners, 226. 


Jerusha, 37. 


member of First Congrega- 


Jerusha (Bull), children of, 


tional Church, St. Johns- 


94, 95- 


bury, Vt., 226. 


John, 10, 31. 



3JnDej: 



337 



Benton (Continued). 
John, 10, 31. 
John, 15, 33, 34. 
John, 34, 42. 
John, 35, 36. 
John Edwin, 270. 
Jonathan, 34. 
Joseph, 11, 16, 17, 33. 

share of his father's estate, 

26, 27. 
brief sketch of, 32. 
grantee in deed to First 
Proprietors of Town of 
Tolland, 42, 46. 
Joseph, 95. 
Joseph, 270. 

marriage, 271. 
Josephine Emery (Aldrich), 

270. 
Josiah Henry, 161, 164, 165, 
168, 175, 202, 203, 204, 
220, 225, 226. 
sketch of, 249-271. 
licensed to preach, 250. 
marriage, 250. 
ordination, 250-252. 
dismissal, 252, 253. 
installed at Northfield, 253, 

254. 
frugal life, 254. 
delegate to General Con- 
vention in Michigan, 
255-258. 
dismissal from Northfield, 

258. 
installed at Clinton, Mich., 

259, 260. 
dismissal, 261-263. 
facsimile of signature of, 

264. 
delegate to General Con- 
vention in New York, 
264, 265. 
installed at Port Huron, 
Mich., 265. 



Benton, Josiah Henry (Continued). 
death of wife, 265. 
returns to Vermont, 265. 
second marriage, 265. 
goes to Maidstone, Vt., 

266. 
address of welcome to 

Bradford Guards, 266, 

267. 
delegate to Constitutional 

Convention of Vermont, 

267, 268. 
characteristics, 268, 269. 
children and grandchildren 

of, 269, 270. 
Josiah Henry, Jr., 226, 270. 

J ulia , 37- 

Katherine Derby, 136. 

Kezia, 34. 

Lavinia, 34. 

Lavinia P., 37. 

Lois, 96. 

Lois (Kellogg), 96. 

Lorene, wife of Ashbel Porter, 

95, 9 6 - 
Louise, 271. 

Louise Dwight (Dow), 227. 
Lucretia Minerva (Hill), 279. 

children of, 279, 280. 
Lucy, wife of Rollin Milo 

Douglas, 299. 
Lydia, 15, 22, 23, 33, 34. 

share of her father's estate, 
26. 

share of her mother's estate, 
28. 

Lydia, 34, 47> 5 1 , 54- 

share of her father's estate, 

.5°- . 

Lydia, wife of John Nevens, 

74- 

share of her father's estate, 

73- 
Lydia, 95. 
Lydia (Burt), 36. 



33* 



3ntttv 



Benton (Continued). 


Benton, Mary (Continued). 


Mabel, wife (i) of Jonathan 


Boardman, 161, 164, 168, 


Watts, (2) of JohnWorces- 


^S- 


ter, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 


sketch of, 213-215. 


89, 90, 92, 97, 115, 116, 


Mary, 299. 


122, 126, 128, 155, 161. 


Mary A., 136. 


sketch of, 105-107. 


Mary Abbie (Morse), 271. 


Mabel Jeanette, 311. 


Mary (Church), 134, 135. 


Maria, 96. 


Mary Edith, 270. 


Maria, 35. 


Mary Elizabeth (Abbott), 270. 


Maria, 78. 


Mary Esther, wife of Albert 


Maria Wells, 37. 


A. Leland, 182, 192, 193. 


Mariah Huldah, wife of Allan 


Mary (Griswold), 136. 


W. Warner, 135, 136. 


Mary Isabella, 168, 214, 270. 


Martha, 34. 


Mary (Skinner), 54. 


Martha, 35. 


Medad, 34. 


Martha, 95, 96. 


Melissa, 78. 


Martha, wife of Josiah Clark, 


Mercy, 34. 


33> 7°> 7h 74- 


Merriam, 71. 


share of her father's estate, 


share of her husband's estate, 


73- 


72, 73- 


sketch of, 76, 77. 


children of, 74. 


Martha, wife of Frederick 


Merriam (Miriam), wife of 


Lathrop, 36. 


Rev. Ithamar Colton, 35, 


sketch of, 76, 77. 


74- 


Martha A., 136. 


share of her father's estate, 


Martha Ellen, wife of Charles 


73- 


Fisher, 270. 


Miranda (Dockstader), 202, 


Martha Ellen (Danforth), 250. 


204, 205. 


children of, 269, 270. 


Mitta (Steele), 35, 37. 


Martha (Griswold), 95. 


Moses, 85. 


Martha (Spencer), 31. 


Moses, 31,34,47,51,54, 75. 


Mary, 10. 


share of his father's estate, 


share of her father's estate, 


50. 


25- 


sketch of, 69-78. 


th ree marriages of, 31. 


will of, 72, 73. 


Mary, 42. 


children of, 74. 


Mary, 34. 


Moses, 75. 


Mary, 35. 


share of his father's estate, 


Mary, wife of Samuel Kings- 


73- 


bury, 82, 84, 85, 86, 88, 


brief sketch of, 74. 


89, 91, 92, 97, 115, 155, 


Moses, 35, 78. 


161, 201, 213. 


Nabby, wife of Erastus Wells, 


sketch of, 147-152. 


35- 


Mary, wife of William C. 


Nancy Bell, 311. 



3Jnt>e;c 



339 



Benton (Continued). 


Benton, R. C, Jr. (Continued). 


Nathaniel S., 36. 


goes to Minneapolis, 295. 


Nathaniel White, 94, 95. 


corporation counsel for 


Paul Amasa, 271. 


Minneapolis, 295. 


Phineas, 82, 83, 87, 97, 155. 


death of, 295. 


share of his grandfather's 


character and ability of, 


estate, 64. 


295-299. 


Phineas, 94. 


children of, 299. 


Phineas, 94. 


facsimile of signature 0^299. 


Phinehas, 34. 


Reynold, 36, 82, 83, 85, 86, 


Phinehas, 57, 63, 94. 


87, 88, 89, 92, 97, 155, 


Prudence, 36. 


161. 


Prudence, 33. 


illness and death of, 115. 


Prudence, 37, 76. 


sketch of, 133-137. 


Prudence, wife of Oliver 


facsimileof signature of, 1 33. 


Terry, 35. 


Rimmon, 94, 95. 


Prudence (Seymour), 74, 78. 


Robert Fuller, 270. 


her school in Hartford, 75. 


Robert Hugh, 271. 


children of, 76-78. 


Roger, 94, 95. 


Reuben C, 1 21, 122. 


Ruth, 34. 


Reuben Clark, 158, 161, 162, 


Ruth, 36. 


164, 165, 169, 175, 209, 


Ruth Chamberlin, 289. 


2 37- 


Sally, wife of David North, 


life and public service of. 


35, 3 6 > 77- 


179-193. 


Samuel, 1, 10, 17, 31, 33, 


offices held by, 180, 181. 


57, 7h 75, 155. 


characteristics of, 181. 


share of his father's estate, 


member of Vermont House 


24, 41. 


of Representatives, 182- 


sketch of, 41-54. 


184. 


marriage of, 41. 


member of Constitutional 


estate of, in Hartford, 41. 


Convention, 184, 185. 


offices held by, 42. 


State Senator, 186-192. 


one of First Proprietors of 


death of, 182. 


Town of Tolland, 42. 


facsimile of signature of, 


administrator of his brother's 


192. 


estate and guardian of his 


children of, 192, 193. 


children, 42. 


Reuben Clark, Jr., 182, 186, 


one of original proprietors 


192, 193, 209. 


of Harwinton, 43. 


sketch of, 293-299. 


conveys h is proprietorship to 


marriage of, 293. 


his son, 44. 


State Attorney for Lamoille 


acquires more land in Hart- 


County, 293. 


ford, 46. 


service of, in War of the 


claim for keeping Nathaniel 


Rebellion, 293, 294. 


Wilson, 46. 



34° 



Untie? 



Benton, Samuel (Continued). 

children of, 47. 

will of, 49-51. 

facsimile of signature of, 51. 

descendants of, 155. 
Samuel, 41, 47, 51, 57. 

one of the grantees in a deed 
to the First Proprietors of 
the Town of Tolland, 
42. 

buys his uncle's estate, 42. 

share of his father's estate, 

49; 
marriage of, 53. 

Samuel, 34. 

Samuel, 36, 70. 

share of his father's estate, 

73- 
sketch of, 74-76. 

children of, 76-78. 
Samuel, 76, 78. 
Samuel, 76, 78. 
Samuel, 76. 
Samuel Austin, sketch of, 201- 

205. 

education and ordination of, 
201. 

marriages of, 202. 

life of, in Michigan, 203. 

death of, 203. 

facsimile of signature of,204. 

will of, 204, 205. 
Samuel Nutting, 202, 205. 
Samuel Slade, 82, 83, 84, 85, 

86, 88, 90, 91, 97, 106, 

in, 113, 114, 116, 179, 

180, 197, 201. 

administrator of the estate 
of his brother Jacob, 1 20. 

sketch of, 155-174. 

buys land in Waterford, 
156. 

marriage of, 156. 

children of, 161, 164, 175. 

offices held by, 162, 163. 



Benton, Samuel Slade (Continued). 

property of, in Lancaster, 
N.H., 163. 

member of First Congrega- 
tional Church, St. Johns- 
bury, Vt., 163. 

member of North Church, 
St. Johnsbury, Vt., 164. 

characteristics of, 167, 168. 

death of, 168, 169. 

facsimileofsignatureof,i73. 
Samuel Slade, 192. 
Samuel Slade, 270. 
Samuel Slade, 311. 
Sara Maria (Leland), 293. 

children of, 299. 
Sarah, wife of Moses Black- 
ley, Jr., 47, 53. 

share of her father's estate, 
50, 51. 
Sarah, 35. 
Sarah (Chatterton), 41, 47, 

57, 66. 

share of her husband's estate, 
49. 
Sarah Jane, wife of Ezra 

Gleason, 136. 
Sarah Maria (Nutting), 202. 
Sarah (Waters), 32. 
Sarai, 33. 
Sarai, 34. 
Seth, 95. 
Susan, 78. 
Susan Mabel, wife of Lawton 

Rockwell, 161, 164, 175. 

short account of, 275, 276. 

children of, 275. 
Susannah, 35. 
Thomas, 53. 
Thomas H., 137. 
Thomas Henry, 269. 
Thomas Henry Seymour, 136, 

!37- 
Timothy, 34. 

Ursula, 76, 78. 



3nbtv 



341 



Benton (Continued). 
Violet, 35. 
Wealthy Peck, 142. 
Willena Blanche (Rogers), 
288. 

children of, 289. 
William, 36. 
William, 95, 96. 
William, 36. 
William, 141, 142. 
William Chauncey, 161, 165, 
166, 173, 175, 182, 209. 
short account of, 279, 280. 
facsimile of signature of,2 80. 
William Henry, 142. 
William Hill, 279, 280. 
William Pomeroy, 96. 
William Rochester, 135. 
Willis, 96. 
Benton's Meadows, 1 14, 161. 
Berlin, Conn., 78. 
Bidwell, Betsey, see Benton, Bet- 
sey (Bidwell). 
Biglow, Jonathan, 31. 

Mary (Benton), 10, 25, 31. 
Blackley, Moses, Jr., 53. 

Sarah (Benton), 47, 50, 51, 53. 
Blackly, John, 48. 
Blaine, James G., 238. 
Board, James, 9. 

Boardman, Mary (Benton), 161, 
164, 168, 175. 

sketch of, 213-215. 
facsimileofsignatureof,2i4. 
William C, 213, 214. 
Boltwood, Lucius M., 150. 
Booker, George W. (member of 
Congress from Virginia), 241, 
246. 
Booth, Rev. John, 260. 
Brace, Stephen, 48. 
Bradford, Vt., 158, 181, 220, 

265, 266. 
Bradford (Vt.) Guards, address to, 
by Rev. Josiah H. Benton, 266. 



Bradley, Tine, 90. 

Brand for horses in Harwinton, 59. 

Bristol, Conn., 101. 

Brooks, George M. (member of 
Congress from Massachusetts), 
246. 

Preston S., 187, 190, 191. 
Simon, Jr., 86. 

Brown, Ira, 180. 

Buck, J. L., 253, 255. 
Mary Ann, 255. 

Buckingham, Joseph, 51. 

Bucknam, Rev. James, 201. 

Buffalo, N. Y., 76. 

Bull, Cynthia, see Gridley, Cyn- 
thia (Bull). 
Isaac, 62. 
Jerusha, see Benton, Jerusha 

(Bull). 
Jonathan, 22. 
Joseph, 42. 

Bunce, Joseph, 74. 
Thomas, 42. 

Burgesses, free, must be mem- 
bers of approved churches, 7. 

Burlington, Conn., 101. 

Burnham, Horatio N., 213. 

Burr, Eliza, see Benton, Eliza 
(Burr). 

Burr and Burton Seminary, Man- 
chester, Vt., 225, 226, 249. 

Burt, Lydia, see Benton, Lydia 
(Burt). 

Butler, Abel, 121. 

General B. F., 240. 
Jonathan, 60, 65. 

c 

CADWELL,Ann (Benton), 141, 
142. 
Eliza, 142. 
William, 142. 
William, Jr., 142. 
Calder, Mr., of Hartford Ferry, 
89. 



342 



3nntx 



Caledonia County, Vt., 114, 120, 


Child, John A., 293, 295. 


129. 


Chittenden, Thomas, 285. 


Calvinism, 151. 


Church, James, 134. 


Cambridge, Mass., 9. 


Mary, see Benton, Mary 


Cambridge Platform, 14. 


(Church). 


Camp, Nicholas, 7. 


Mary (Wadsworth), 134. 


Canaan, N. Y., 76. 


Church attendance, Connecticut 


Carlton, Carrie Asenath, see Ben- 


legislation regarding, 14. 


ton, Carrie Asenath (Carlton). 


Church fellowship, necessity of, 3. 


Phoebe Bartlett, 271. 


Church members, privileges of, 


Sereno D wight, 271. 


3> 7- 


Carter, Abigail, see Benton, Abi- 


Clark, Eunice, 74. 


gail (Carter). 


George, Senr., 3. 


Joshua, 57. 


George, 9. 


Martha (Skinner), 57. 


Huldah, see Benton, Huldah 


Catling, Abijah, 45. 


(Clark). 


Abijah, 62. 


John, 165. 


Chamberlin, Abner, 283. 


Josiah, 33, 71, 74. 


Adda, see Benton, Adda 


Luther, 120, 122, 126, 179. 


(Chamberlin). 


Martha (Benton), 33, 70, 71, 


Mary (Haseltine), 283. 


73, 74,.76> 77- 


Chambers, Deacon D. V., 251. 


Clarke and Bishop, 122. 


Chandler, Charles, 259, 260. 


Clements, John, 46. 


John, 112. 


Cleveland, Ohio, 136. 


John W., 114, 122. 


Clinton, Mich., 181, 203, 214, 


Channing, Dr. William Henry, 


258, 259, 260, 261, 265. 


203. 


First Presbyterian Society of, 


Chapman, Captain Samuel, 147. 


262. 


Charlestown, N. H., 1 56, 1 69, 1 74. 


Clover mill, 158. 


Charlton, Mass., 78. 


Coats of arms of the Benton 


Chatterton, Mary, 41, 47. 


family, 1, 315. 


Sarah, see Benton, Sarah 


Cold Harbor, battle of, 294. 


(Chatterton). 


Cole, Anne, see Benton, Anne 


William, 41. 


(Cole). 


Chesley, Abigail Haines (Hoyt), 


John, 13, 31. 


271. 


Mary (Benton), 10, 25, 31. 


Annie, see Benton, Annie 


Nathaniel, 16, 28, 31, 46. 


(Chesley). 


Collamer, Jacob, 285. 


Jonathan Steele, 271. 


Colt, Huldah, see Gridley, Hul- 


Chester (Vt.) Academy, 220. 


dah (Colt). 


Chesterfield, Vt., 128. 


Colton, Rev. Ithamar, 35, 74. 


Chickering, Ann (Worcester), 


Merriam (Benton), 35, 73, 74. 


105, 107. 


Concord, N. H., a£t of Legisla- 


Chickery (Chickering ?), Ann, 


ture to amend charter of, 236. 


122. 


Concord (Vt.) Academy, 249. 



3JnUey 



343 



Congregationalism, primary prin- 
ciple of, 5. 
of Thomas Hooker, 14. 

Connecticut Colony, grant of 
lands by, to Hartford and 
Windsor, 43, 44. 

Connecticut Courant, 84. 

Connecticut River, improvement 
of, advocated in Congress by 
Hon. Jacob Benton, 245. 

Constitution of the United States, 
amendment to, proposed by 
Pennsylvania, 118. 

Constitutional Convention of Ver- 
mont, see Vermont Constitu- 
tional Convention. 

Converse, Amasa, 261. 

Cook, Aaron, 43, 47, 62. 
Joseph, 66. 
Lieutenant Joseph, 90. 

Cooley, Joseph, 96. 

Coos County (N. H.) Bar, meet- 
ing of, on death of Hon. Jacob 
Benton, 228-233. 

Corning, Ezra, 35. 
George, 36. 
Hannah (Benton), 36. 

Cornwall, Vt., 141. 

Cosslett, Clara, see Gridley, Clara 
(Cosslett). 

Coukey, William H., 251. 

Coventry, Conn., 147. 

Cox, Rev. S. G., 252. 

Cushman, Clark, 121, 126. 

Cutting, Abijah, 66. 

D 

DAme school kept by Pru- 
dence Benton, 75. 
Danforth, David, 250. 
Huldah, 250. 

Martha Ellen, see Benton, 
Martha Ellen (Danforth). 
Daniels, Eva A. (Smith), 142. 
Danvers, 111., 150. 



Danville, Vt., 120, 121. 
Deming, Benjamin F., 120, 122, 

126. 
Denny, Deacon Samuel, 254, 255. 
Derby, Katherine, see Benton, 

Katherine (Derby). 
Derby Line, Vt., 249. 
Dexter, Oliver, 251. 
Dockstader, Mrs., 202. 

Miranda, see Benton, Miranda 
(Dockstader). 
Dod, Edward, 43. 
Dodd, Lydia (Flowers), 94. 

Timothy, 94. 
Doe, Charles, 238. 
Douglas, Helen, 299. 

Lucy (Benton), 299. 

Rollin Milo, 299. 
Douglass, Edwin, 152. 
Dow, Louise Dwight, see Benton, 

Louise Dwight (Dow). 

Maria Cornelia Durant (May- 
nard), 227. 
Duncan, Adam, 126. 
Dunlap, Rev. A. B., 260. 
Dwinnell, Hiram, 254, 255. 



EArmarks for cattle, 59, 81, 
84. 

East Haddam, 136. 

Easton, Jonathan, 49. 

Eaton, Rev. D. L., 261. 

Eaton and Davenport Com- 
pany, 2. 

Edgton, Yorkshire, England, 2. 

Edmunds, George F., 285, 287. 

Edwards, Richard, 47. 
William, 13. 

Ensign, Hannah, see Benton, 
Hannah (Ensign). 
James, 32. 
Jonathan, 51. 
Thomas, 53. 

Essex, England, 1, 2. 



344 



3ntitx 



Essex County, Vt., 181, 182. 


Free burgesses, see Burgesses, free. 


Essex County (Vt.) Grammar 


Free planters, 3. 


School, 161, 179, 197, 201, 


"Freeman's Oath," form of, 11, 


209, 213, 275. 


12. 


Estabrook, J., 258. 


Freemasonry, 168. 


Evarts, George, 251. 


Fremont, General John Charles, 


F 


269. 


Frilding, Erastus, 122. 


TT^AlRBANKS, E. & T., 122. 
3} Messrs., 162, 213. 


Fuller, B., 125. 


Farmington, Conn., 15, 16, 53, 


G 


94. 


f^ Aylord, Emily Nichols 
VJ (Benton), 135, 136. 


Farnum, Eben, 125, 126. 


Fences, viewer of, office held by 


Hezekiah, 136. 


Andrew Benton, 11, 15. 


Gibbins, William, 22. 


Fifteen Mile Falls (in Connecti- 


Gilbert, Betsey (Kingsbury), 148, 


cut River), 246. 


149, 150. 


Fines, for absence from public 


Gilbird, Mr., 90. 


worship, 14. 


Gilchrist, A., 126. 


Fish, Daniel, 36, 142. 


Gill, Mass., 115, 127, 128, 148. 


Fanny (Benton), 36, 141, 142. 


Gleason, Frances Amelia (Ben- 


Fisher, Charles, 270. 


ton), 136. 


Martha Ellen (Benton), 270. 


Edward N., 136. 


Mary Benton, 270. 


Ezra, 136. 


Fletcher, Almira, see Benton, Al- 


Sarah Jane (Benton), 136. 


mira (Fletcher). 


Goodhill Cemetery, Kent, Conn., 


Hon. Everett, his estimate of 


11. 


the character and ability of 


Goodhue, Rev. Josiah F., 251, 


Hon. Jacob Benton, 230- 


252. 


232. 


Goodrich, Daniel, 48. 


John, 7. 


Goss, D., 122. 


Mary Anne (Billings), 179. 


Emery, 121. 


Samuel, 179. 


H. I., 226. 


Timothy, 86. 


Lena, 126. 


Flint, Abel, 133, 134. 


Otis, 126. 


Amanda Ackley, see Benton, 


Richard, 122, 126. 


Amanda Ackley (Flint). 


Graham, Jeanette, see Benton, 


John, 142. 


Jeanette (Graham). 


Mary (Ackley), 142. 


Granby, Conn., 74. 


Foot, Solomon, 285. 


Grand Rapids, Mich., 150. 


Foster, Rev. Amos, 250. 


Grant, Matthew, 28. 


Rev. G. L., 261, 262, 263. 


Samuel, 112. 


Fowler, William, 5. 


General U. S., 294. 


Francis, Marcy, 47. 


Greenfield, Mass., 148. 


Frasin, Rev. John M., 251, 252. 


Greenfield, N. Y., 77. 



SJnDej 



345 



Greensmith, Nathaniel, executed 


Halifax, Vt., 136. 


on charge of witchcraft, 11, 


Hall, Medad, 82. 


16, 17. 


Samuel Reed, 213. 


Rebecca, executed on charge 


Rev. Thomas, 250. 


of witchcraft, 16, 17. 


Harrison, President W. H., 255. 


Gridley, Anne (Sanford), 10 1. 


Hartford, Conn., Old Centre 


Clara (Cosslett), 101. 


Burying Ground at, 1. 


Cynthia (Bull), 101. 


town records of, 10. 


Elizabeth (Benton), 82, 83, 


execution for witchcraft at, 1 1. 


85, 87, 97, 115, 116, 134, 


land granted to, by Connecti- 


141, 155, 161, 167, 168, 


cut Colony, 44. 


173, 219. 


home of many of the Benton 


share of her grandfather's 


family, passim. 


estate, 65. 


First Church in, original rec- 


letters to, from her par- 


ords of, 9, 13. 


ents, 88-91. 


seceders from, form Second 


sketch of, 1 01, 102. 


Church of Hartford, 13. 


George, 1 01. 


Many other references pas- 


Huldah (Colt), 101. 


sim. 


Joel, 101, 115,116, 161, 173. 


See also Hartford Contro- 


Lois (Alfred), 101. 


versy. 


Lyman, 101. 


Second Church in, organiza- 


Mary, 10 1. 


tion of, 12, 13. 


Silas, 85, 116, 127, 168, 172, 


descendants of Andrew 


!73- 


Benton appearing in rec- 


letters to, from Jacob and 


ords of, 33-37. 


Hannah Benton, 88-91. 


certain records lost, 71. 


children of, 101, 102. 


Many other references pas- 


Silas, Jr., 101. 


sim. 


Solomon, 101. 


See also Hartford Contro- 


Griswold, Janna, 65. 


versy. 


Martha, 95. 


South Church in, 35. 


Mary, see Benton, Mary (Gris- 


Hartford and New York Steam- 


wold). 


boat Company, 135. 


Guildhall, Vt., Congregational 


Hartford Controversy, 13, 14. 


Church in, 284. 


Hartford Ferry, 89. 


Guilford, Conn., 7, 53. 


Harwinton, Conn., origin of name, 


Guiney's Station, battle at, 294. 


44. 


H 


incorporation of, 58. 


first town meeting of, 59. 


TT Adley, Flora E., see Benton, 
JT1 Flora E. (Hadley). 


provision for first school-house 


of, 60, 61. 


Haines, Joseph, 18. 


church records of, 82. 


Hale, Mordecai, 122. 


home of many of the Benton 


Half Way Covenant, 14. 


family, passim. 



346 



3nbtx 



Hathaway, Silas, 118. 

Hayden, Daniel, 62. 

Healey, Catherine A., see Benton, 

Catherine (Healey). 

Johanna (Purtil), 137. 

William, 137. 
Heaton, James, 48. 
Hedden, Emma Viola, see Benton, 

Emma Viola (Hedden). 
Hennepin County, Minn., Bar 

of, passes resolutions in memo- 

riam Reuben C. Benton, 297, 

298, 299. 
Henry, Hugh, 249. 

Mary, 249. 

Patrick, 188. 
Hereford County, England, 2. 
Herrick, Rev. S. L., 251. 
Hibbard, Harry, 235. 
Hickox, Ephraim, 43. 
Hill, Joel, 279. 

Lois (Munsort), 279. 

Lucretia Minerva, see Benton, 
Lucretia Minerva (Hill). 
Hinckley, Jonathan, 43. 
Hinsdale, Barnabas, 43, 58. 
Hinsdell, Daniel, 65. 

Elizabeth, see Benton, Eliza- 
beth (Hinsdell). 

Martha (Smith), 58. 
Hobart, Rev. L. Smith, 259, 260, 

261, 262, 263. 
Holt, Joseph, Judge Advocate 

General, 243. 
Holtom, Joseph, 57, 73. 
Hooker, Samuel, 18. 

Thomas, 13. 

Congregationalism of, 14. 
Hopkins, Ebenezer, 62. 

Jonathan, 60. 
Horses, brand for, in Harwinton, 

59- 
Hosmer, Stephen, 23, 30. 

Thomas, 15, 16. 

Hotchkiss, Caleb, 48. 



I 



Hotchkiss (Continued). 

Henrietta, see Benton, Henri- 
etta (Hotchkiss). 
John, 47. 
Joshua, 47. 

I 

Sham, Edgar Benton, 280. 
Florence Alena (Benton), 280. 
Frank D., 280. 

7 

JEncks, Mr., 243. 
Jenks, Edward W., 280. 
Florence Alena (Benton), 
280. 
Jewett, Dr. Luther, 122. 
Johnson, Andrew, President, 239, 
285. 

Beulah, see Watts, Beulah 
(Johnson). 
Jones, William S., 82. 
Jordan, Hon. C. B., his estimate 
of the character and ability of 
Hon. Jacob Benton, 232, 233. 
Judd, Melissa, see Benton, Me- 
lissa. 

K 

KEeler, D. C, 252. 
Keene, N. H., 115. 
Kelleher, Catherine, see Benton, 
Catherine (Kelleher). 
Catherine (Sheridan), 137. 
Michael, 137. 
Kellogg, Hannah (Benton), 53. 
Lois, see Benton, Lois (Kel- 

lo gg)- 
Samuel, 16. 

Samuel, 53. 
Kent, Conn., 11, 32. 
Kentucky, Ninth Congressional 

District of, 239. 
Kidder, Samuel, 86. 
King, Joseph, 46. 



3JnDqr 



347 



Kingsbury, Anna Maria, see Mer- 


Kitchel, Rev. H. D., 258, 261, 


rill, Anna Maria (Kingsbury). 


262. 


Benjamin, 148, 149. 


L 


Betsey, see Gilbert, Betsey 


(Kingsbury). 


TAmb, Rev. Dana, 251, 252. 
1 j Lamoille Valley Railroad, 


Candace, 148, 149. 


Caroline, 148, 149. 


286. 


Enoch, 148, 149, 150. 


Lancaster, N. H., 162, 163, 226. 


Eunice, 149. 


Lane Seminary, Walnut Hill, 


Hannah, 147, 148, 149, 150, 


Ohio, 78. 


151. 


Langdon, N. H., 147, 148, 149. 


Ira, 148, 149. 


Lankton, Mrs., 90. 


Jabez, 147. 


Lansing, Rev. Dr., 264. 


Lyman, 148, 149, 150. 


Lathrop, Elderkin, 77. 


Mary (Benton), 82, 84, 85, 86, 


Elijah Andrew, 77. 


88, 89, 91, 92, 97, 115, 


Elizabeth, 77. 


155, 161, 201, 213. 


Dr. Frederick, 76, 77. 


sketch of, 147-152. 


Frederick, Jr., 77. 


Mary, 148, 149, 150, 151. 


James, 77. 


Nathaniel, 127, 128, 147, 148, 


Rev. John, 76. 


149. 


Lucinda, 77. 


Samuel, 83, 201, 213. 


Martha, 74. 


sketch of, 147-152. 


Martha Ann, 77. 


will of, 151. 


Martha (Benton), 36. 


Samuel, Jr., 148, 149. 


sketch of, 76, 77. 


Sarah (Chapman), 147. 


Orlando, 77. 


Kinne, Amos, 219. 


Prudence Benton, see Martin, 


Susan (Grow), 219. 


Prudence Benton (Lathrop). 


Kinney, Amos Benton, 219, 220. 


Latimer, Mrs. F. A., 276. 


Deacon Elisha, 162, 205. 


Lean-to houses of Milford set- 


children of, 219. 


tlers, 3. 


death of, 220. 


Leavitt, Rev. Harvey L., 252. 


Elizabeth (Benton), 161, 164, 


Lebanon, N. H., 76. 


175, 203, 214. 


Leland, Albert A., 193. 


short account of, 219-221. 


Charles, 293. 


facsimile of signature of, 


Clarence Albert, 193. 


221. 


Clifford M., 193. 


Ellen Elizabeth, see Ware, 


Frederick Adams, 193. 


Ellen Elizabeth (Kinney). 


George Benton, 193. 


Harriet, 219. 


Helen Douglass, 193. 


Jacob Benton, 219. 
Laura Emeline, 219. 


Lucy Louise, 193. 


Lucy (Perkins), 293. 


Milo, 219. 


Mary Almira, 193. 


Susan Grow, 219. 


Mary Esther (Benton), 182, 


William Carlos, 219. 


192, 193. 



348 gnDer 


Leland (Continued). 


Merrill, Anna Maria (Kingsbury), 


Sara Maria, see Benton, Sara 


148, 149, 150. 


Maria (Leland). 


Rev. Dr., 252. 


Thomas Henry, 193. 


G. W., 310. 


Lenox, Mass., 95. 


John, 20. 


Litchfield Academy, 134. 


Merriman, Israel, 60, 62. 


Litchfield County, Conn., 141. 


Merritt, John, 27. 


Little Dreadful Swamp, 7. 


Messenger, Daniel, 61. 


Littleton, Vt., name changed to 


Middlebury College, 201, 249. 


Waterford, 156. 


Middlesex, Vt., 106, 107, 128. 


Logan, General, 240. 


Milford, Conn., allotment of 


Lomes, Joshua, 43. 


lands in, 3, 8, 9. 


Long Island Sound, 2. 


purchase of, from Indians and 


Lord Farm, St. Johnsbury, 114. 


settlement of, 2. 


Lothrop, Frederic, see Lathrop, 


plan of original town plot, 4. 


Frederic. 


becomes a part of the colony 


Martha (Benton), see Lathrop, 


of New Haven, 7. 


Martha (Benton). 


town records of, 10. 


Lynch, Abigail G., see Rockwell, 


First Church in, organization 


Abigail G. (Lynch). 


of, 2, 5. 


Lyndon (Vt.) Academy, 225, 249. 


plan of, 6. 


M 


original records of, 9, 10, 12. 


Military service, 3. 


1% /TAcKnight, Thomas, 164. 
J.VA McLean Asylum, Somer- 


Mill River, 3. 


Mills, Pelatiah, 72, 73. 


ville, Mass., 209. 


Milton, N. Y., 77. 


Mann, Jacob, 105. 


Minnesota Commandery of the 


Marriages, law granting solemni- 


Loyal Legion, testimonial of, 


zation of, by ministers, 9. 


in memoriam Reuben Clark 


those solemnized by magis- 


Benton, 296, 297. 


trates often unrecorded, 10. 


Missouri, constitution of, 119. 


Martin, Charles Towneley, 70, 


Missouri Compromise, 234, 235. 


7 6 > 77- 


Monroe Doclrine, 237. 


James B., 77. 


Montpelier, Vt., Constitutional 


Prudence Benton (Lathrop), 


Convention held at, 119. 


7 6 > 77- 


Montpelier and Wells River Rail- 


Massachusetts Synod of 1657, 


road, 286. 


J 3- 


Moody, Nathaniel, 84. 


Mather, Increase, letter to, from 


Samuel, 16. 


Rev. John Whiting, 17. 


Morgan horses, n 2, 116, 203. 


his Essay for the Recording 


Morris, John, 23. 


of Illustrious Providences, 


Morse, Charles Fitch, 271. 


cited, 19. 


Eliza Dorinda (Winter), 271. 


Mattocks, Samuel B., 121. 


Mary Abbie, see Benton, Mary 


Meacham, Rev. James, 251, 252. 


Abbie (Morse). 



SnUej: 



349 



Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, 78. 

Mt. Vernon Church, Boston, 

275. 
Munson, Theophilus, 48. 

N 

NAsh, Joseph, 19. 
Naugatuck, Conn., 137. 
Nesmith, George W., 235. 
Nevens, Lydia (Benton), 73, 

74- 

John, 74. 
New Haven, Conn., English set- 
tlers in, 2. 
New Milford, Conn., 88. 
New Towne, The, now Cam- 
bridge, 9. 
Newark, N. J., 95. 
Newbury, Vt., 88, 115. 
Niblack, Mr., 243. 
Nichols, Captain Cyprian, 32. 
Niles, Harriet Buxton, see Benton, 

Harriet Buxton (Niles). 

Nathaniel, 265. 

Silence (Sawyer), 265. 
North, David, 36, 78. 

Sally (Benton), 35, 36, 77. 
North Star (paper), 121. 
Northampton, Mass., 53. 
Northfield, Vt., Congregational 

Church in, 254, 264. 
Nutting, Eliza Anne, see Benton, 

Eliza Anne (Nutting). 

Dr. H. G., 225. 

Mary (Hubbard), 202. 

Samuel, 202. 

Sarah Maria, see Benton, Sarah 
Maria (Nutting). 

William, 202. 

O 

OAth of Fidelity, 82, 84. 
Old South Burying Ground, 
Hartford, 78. 
Orange County Association, 201. 



PAlisades, 3. 
Park, Edwards Amasa, 150. 

Parks, Levi P., 120, 122, 126. 

Parsons, David, 152. 

Peacham, Vt., 114. 

Peacham (Vt.) Academy, 201, 
225, 249. 

Peck, Elijah, 259. 
Deacon Paul, 32. 
Wealthy,*^ Benton, Wealthy 
(Peck). 

Perkins, Jerusha (Benton), 35. 
Timothy P., 35. 

Pettibone, Mary, 

see Gridley, Mary. 

Phelps, Daniel, 61, 62. 
Samuel, 61, 62. 

Pierce, Franklin, 234, 236, 237. 

Pike, Albert, 310. 

Leucena K., see Watts, Leu- 
cena K. (Pike). 

Pitkin, William, 13, 46. 

Poland, Luke P., 238, 285. 

Pomeroy, Experience (Wood- 
ward), 53. 
Mary, see Benton, Mary 

(Pomeroy). 
Medad, 53. 

Poor debtor's oath, law govern- 
ing, in Vermont, 118. 

Port Huron, Mich., Congrega- 
tional Church in, 265. 

Porter, Ashbel, 96. 

Powell, William, 73. 

Powers, Rev. Grant, 179. 
Sarah, 121. 

Practice of medicine, regulation 
of, in Vermont, 117. 

Prairyville, Wis., 149. 

Pratt, Addison W., 205. 

Prentice, Nathaniel Sartel, 105, 
147. 



35° 



3M)tX 



Presbyterian order and Congrega- 
tionalism, struggle between, 
14. 

Prouty, Esther, see Benton, Esther 
(Prouty). 

Prudden, Rev. Peter, pastor at 
New Haven, 1638, 2. 
ordained pastor of the Mil- 
ford Church, 5. 

Public worship, absence from, 
fined, 14. 

Putnam, Mrs. W. H. H., 85. 

R 

RAmsey, Euph. and James, 1 25. 
. James, 126. 

Randolph (Vt.) Academy, 201, 
225. 

Ray, Ossian, 226. 

Reed, William B., 152. 

Retreat for the Insane at Hart- 
ford, 46, 57. 

Rice, Abel M., 122. 

Richards, Deacon Thomas, 32, 
48, 51. 

Richardson, Stephen, 158. 

Riggs, Edward, 3. 

Roberts, Hollis, 122, 126. 

Robinson, Alice, 193. 

Almira Fletcher (Benton), 
182, 192. 
children of, 193. 
Jessie, 193. 
Katherine, 193. 
Le Roy, 193. 
Mirabel, 193. 

Rochester, N. Y., 134, 136. 

Rockingham, Vt., revival of re- 
ligion in, 90. 

home of members of the Ben- 
ton family, passim. 

Rockingham County, N. H., 235, 
238. 

Rockwell, Abigail G. (Lynch), 
276. 



Rockwell (Continued). 

Edwin Lawton, 275. 

Edwin Lawton 2nd, 275. 

Joseph Lawton, 276. 

Julius Benton, 275, 276. 

Lawton, 275. 

Susan Mabel (Benton), 161, 
164, 175. 
children of, 275. 
facsimile of signatureof,276. 
Rockwood, William, 251, 252. 
Rockyhill, Conn., 142. 
Rogers, Harriet Willis, 288. 

Samuel T., 288. 

Willena Blanche, see Benton, 
Willena Blanche (Rogers). 
Root, Hannah (Benton), 53. 

Joseph, 53. 
Rugg, Almena, see Benton, Al- 

mena (Rugg). 

Mary (Palmer), 77. 

Sylvanus, 77. 
Russell & Davis, 125. 

S 

SAbbath, Aft for the obser- 
vation of the, in. 
St. Johnsbury, Vt., home of mem- 
bers of the Benton family, 
passim. 
First Congregational Church 

in, 163, 165, 226. 
North Congregational Church 
in, 164, 165, 197, 201, 209, 
213, 219, 226, 249, 275. 
South Congregational Church 
in, 214. 
St. Johnsbury (Vt.) Academy, 

213, 219, 283. 
St. Louis, establishment of Sun- 
day-schools in, 78. 
Saltonstall, Sir Richard, 2. 
Sanford, Anne, see Gridley, Anne 
(Sanford). 
Robert, 13. 



gjnisej; 



3S* 



Sawyer, Hannah (Watts), 105, 


Southington, Conn., 101. 


106. 


Spencer, Martha, see Benton, 


Schoharie, N. Y., 78. 


Martha (Spencer). 


School, taxes levied for, in Har- 


Thomas, 31. 


winton, 60-63. 


Spottsylvania Court House, battle 


Scituate, Mass., 76. 


at, 294. 


Scofell, Hannah (Benton), 33. 


Springfield, Vt., 85. 


Sedgwick, Jane J., see Benton, 


Stamford, Conn., 7. 


Jane J. (Sedgwick). 


Stanly, Eunice, see Benton, Eu- 


Selden, Thomas, 16. 


nice (Stanly). 


"Seven pillars," 5. 


Nathaniel, 47, 48. 


Seymour, Keziah (Bull), 74. 


Starr, Esther (Benton), 209, 210. 


Roderick, 36, 134. 


facsimileofsignatureof,2iO. 


Thomas, 75, 78. 


James Timothy, 209. 


Zebulon, 74. 


Steele, James, 20. 


Shepard, Amos, 86. 


Steele, Mitta, see Benton, Mitta 


Deborah, 150. 


(Steele). 


John, 31. 


Stephens, Benjamin, 112. 


Mary (Benton), 31. 


Stevens, Morrill, 121. 


Shepherd, John, see Shepard. 


Stocking, George, 16, 22, 41. 


Mary (Benton), see Shepard. 


one of the early settlers in 


Sheridan, General, 238. 


Hartford, 9. 


Shoreham, Vt., 95. 


takes part in the Hartford 


Shutesbury, 148. 


Controversy, 13. 


Skinner, John, 54. 


Hannah, see Benton, Hannah 


Mary, see Benton, Mary (Skin- 


(Stocking). 


ner). 


John, 42. 


Rachel (Pratt), 54. 


Stoddard, Charles J., 197. 


Slade, Hannah, see Benton, Han- 


Emily Ellen, 197. 


nah (Slade). 


Esther Maria, 197. 


John, 85, 87. 


George Allen, 197, 202. 


William, 88. 


Hannah Elizabeth, 197. 


Smith, D., 126. 


Hannah Slade (Benton), 197, 


Mrs. Fannie, 83. 


198. 


Fanny (Benton), 142. 


facsimile of signature of, 1 98. 


Hannah (Benton), 33. 


Harriet Kinney, 197. 


John, merchant, of New York 


Helen Relief, 197. 


City, 85. 


Jesse Willard, 160, 161, 197. 


Lambert Wesley, 142. 


Jesse William, 197. 


Mary, 142. 


Josiah Willard, 197, 198. 


Deacon Reuben, 252. 


Mary Boardman, 197. 


Richard, 22. 


Samuel Slade, 197. 


William, 142. 


Stone, Rev. Mr., minister of First 


Southhold, Conn, (originally Yen- 


Church in Hartford, 13. 


nicock), 7. 


Rev. L. H., 250. 



3S* 



$nt}tx 



Stowe, Dolly, see Benton, Dolly 

(Stowe). 
Sumner, Charles, 187, 190, 191, 

192, 237. 
Sunday-schools, establishment of, 

in St. Louis, 78. 
Synod of 1657 (Massachusetts), 

13- 



T 



r 

Alcott, Joseph, 46. 
Tallcott, Captain John, 15, 

16. 
Tapp, Edmund, 5. 
Taxation measures, supported or 

opposed by Hon. Jacob Ben- 
ton, 239, 240. 
Taxes for school in Harwinton, 

60-63. 
Taylorism, 150, 151. 
Terry, Oliver, 35. 
Thatcher, Miss, 76. 
Thomas, Stephen, 183. 
Thompson, Amanda, see Benton, 

Amanda. 

Amos, 35, 76. 

Eunice (Benton), 35, 76. 
Thurston, Joseph, 122. 
Tolland, Conn., first proprietors 

of, 42. 

home of many members of 
the Benton family, passim. 
Trenton, N. Y., 36. 
Tuttle, Caleb, 48. 
Tylerism, 151. 
Tythingman, duties of, ill. 

u 

UNionville, Farmington, 
Conn., 101. 
United States Constitution, see 
Constitution of the United 
States. 
University of Vermont, 118, 293. 



V 



VAn Wagner, Rev. J. M., 
259, 260, 261. 

Vermont, manner of life of early 
settlers in, 170-172. 

Vermont Assembly, Jacob Ben- 
ton's action as member of, 
117, 118. 

Vermont Central Railroad, 185. 

Vermont, Constitutional Conven- 
tion of 1822, 113, 117. 
amendments proposed by, 

"9; 

Constitutional Convention of 

1850, 184, 185. 

Vermont State Library, 186, 187. 

Vermont University, see Univer- 
sity of Vermont. 

Viewer of fences, office held by 
Andrew Benton, 11, 15. 

"Visible saints," 5, 14. 

Voorhees, Mr., 243. 

Vose, Ezekiel, 121. 

w 

TI 7Adsworth, Rev. Daniel, 

Walker, George, 136. 

Hannah E. (Benton), 136. 
Wallingford, Conn., 47. 
Walpole, N. H., in, 112. 
Ware, Ellen Elizabeth (Kinney), 

219, 220. 
Warner, Allan W., 136. 

Mariah Huldah (Benton), 135, 
136. 
"Warning to depart," 86. 
Wastell, Rev. W. P., 259, 260. 
Watchman of the Valley, Andrew 

Benton associate editor of, 78. 
Waterbury, Conn., 10 1. 
Waterbury Centre, Vt., 106. 
Waterford, Vt., allotment of lands 

in, 157. 



3Jntiej: 



3S3 



Waterford, Vt. (Continued). 

home of various members of 
the Benton family, passim. 
Waters, Bevil, 32. 

Sarah, see Benton, Sarah (Wa- 
ters). 
Watertown, Mass., 1, 2, 9, 12. 
Watts, Aaron Y., 107. 

Alfred, 106, 107. 

Beulah (Johnson), 106. 
children of, 106, 107. 

Beulah J., 107. 

David, 128. 

David, 105. 

children of, 106, 107. 

David O., 106. 

Hannah, see Sawyer, Hannah 
(Watts). 

Jonathan, 105. 

Leucena K. (Pike), 106. 

Loren D., 106, 1 07. 

Loren R., 107. 

Mabel (Benton), see Benton, 
Mabel. 

Oscar F., 106, 107. 

Rufus A., 106, 107. 

Sylvester, 106. 

Zenas, 106, 107. 
Way, Ellison, 22. 
Webster, Cyprian, 62, 64. 

Daniel, the Seventh of March 
speech of, 269. 

Robert, 19. 
Wells, Aurelia, see Benton, Au- 

relia (Wells). 

Erastus, 35. 

Ichabod, 30, 45. 

John S., 235. 
Wells River Railroad, 286. 
Wentworth, Peter, 188. 
Wepowage, Indian name of Mil- 
ford, Conn., 2. 
West Addison ("Addison Cor- 
ner"), Vt., 250, 251. 
West End Brook, 3. 



Westminster, Vt., 113. 
Wethersfield, Conn., 2, 9, 15, 16, 

47, 142. 
Wetmore, Chloe (Benton), 36. 

Rev. Oliver, 36. 
Wheeler, Munson, 261. 
Whidden, Hon. B. F., 229. 

his estimate of the character 
of Hon. Jacob Benton, 229, 
230. 
White, Elizabeth, see Benton, 

Elizabeth (White). 

Nathaniel, 94. 

Sarah (Hinsdale), 94. 
Whiting, Rev. John, secedes from 

First to Second Church of 

Hartford, 13. 

letter of, to Increase Mather, 

Whitman, Zachariah, 5. 
Wiggins, Enoch, 213. 
Willys, Hezekiah, 45. 

Samuel, 16. 
Wilson, Adams, 265. 

John, 28. 

Nathaniel, 46. 

Phineas, 22. 
Wiltshire, England, I. 
Windsor, Conn., 141. 

lands granted to, by Connecti- 
cut Colony, 44. 
Wiord, John, 22. 
Wirt, William, 168. 
Witchcraft, Nathaniel and Re- 
becca Greensmith executed 

for, II, 16, 17. 
Wolcott, Deacon Almon, 251. 
Woodbury, Conn., 88. 
Worcester, Ann, see Chickering, 

Ann (Worcester). 

Arad, 105, 106, 107. 

Arad, 128. 

Ira, 105, 107. 

John, 105. 

John, Jr., 105, 107. 



354 



3nbtv 



Worcester (Continued). 

Mabel (Benton), see Benton, 
Mabel. 

Mary S., 105, 107. 

Ralph, 105, 107, 128. 
Worster, see Worcester. 
Wyllys, Elizabeth, 45. 



r 



YEnnicock, original name of 
Southhold, Conn., 7. 
Young, Ira, 226. 
« Yellow House," Walpole, N. H., 
in. 



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